THE top councillor in Ealing faces possible disciplinary action over his handling of a meeting on Tuesday night.

An opposition councillor has requested Councillor Jason Stacey, the leader of Ealing Council, be referred to the authority's Standards Committee, which regulates the behaviour of elected members.

The complaint has been made by Councillor Phil Greenhead (Lab, Hobbayne) and was sparked by Cllr Stacey's handling of a question and answer session on the removal of lampposts in Hanwell.

During the meeting he faced heckles from the public gallery accusing him of being a "liar".

Cllr Greenhead asked Cllr Stacey whether the works programme to remove heritage lampposts could be halted at the meeting.

She said: "There was no consultation with residents or with English Heritage before the Council started removing lampposts from this conservation area.

"Worse, the Conservatives have accused concerned residents of being political stooges just because they had the temerity to object.

"Cllr Stacey was rude and unhelpful, lied about the consultation he said had occurred, and all along these lampposts were being stolen to glam up Tory wards."

Cllr Greenhead has now written to the council to inquire whether there are grounds to refer Cllr Stacey to the council's Standards Committee.

If Cllr Stacey is referred to the committee, which is made up of councillors and members of the public, and it finds he has broken the council's code of conduct, the complaint could be reffered to the Standards Board for England for further investigation.