A FIRE service boss disclosed confidential information, sent a threatening e-mail, made an aggressive phone call and attended a meeting smelling of alcohol, a disciplinary hearing was told.

Cllr Mark Healey was ordered to apologise and undertake training for his actions as chairman of the audit and performance review committee of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority.

The details of the case dating back to April and May this year have just come to light after the minutes of the standards committee hearing held in private last month were published.

Cllr Healey, a Somerset county councillor who also serves on Sedgemoor District and Puriton Parish Councils, was accused of:

*the unauthorised disclosure of information from a behind-closed-doors resources committee meeting;

*sending an e-mail with an implied threat;

*making an aggressive phone call to the same person;

*attending a meeting "smelling strongly of alcohol".

The minutes report that Cllr Healey "regretted any offence and upset" and that some of his language "may have come across as threatening".

The hearing resolved that he had breached the code of conduct in the first three.

Referring to the smell of alcohol on his breath, Cllr Healey said: "If there was any such smell, it would have been from the consumption of wine the evening before."

He denied he was intoxicated or his functioning was impaired at the meeting.

The hearing resolved that he had breached the code of conduct in the first three, but not over the issue of alcohol.

The committee hearing the case ordered Cllr Healey to write "a meaningful letter of apology" to the complainant for the e-mail and phone call, as well as a letter of apology to the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority.

He was also told to undertake refresher training on the handling of confidential information.