The leader of North Lanarkshire Council, who was reported to a watchdog for not declaring his friendship with executives at a company at the heart of a multi-million-pound council housing repairs deal, has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Labour’s Jim McCabe was reported to the Public Standards Commissioner for not declaring the relationship with Mears Scotland boss Willie Docherty during council meetings where the Mears contract was discussed.

The Herald had claimed back in July that Mears Scotland secured substantial concessions in its housing repairs contract with the council – costing the authority some £25 million.

However, after investigating the commissioner said Mr McCabe did nothing wrong.

In his report, Standards Commissioner Bill Thomson said: “Having considered the information that arose from my investigation, I concluded that, the matters raised against Councillor James McCabe did not amount to a contravention of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.”