ANOTHER Tory has hit out at Basildon Council boss Bala Mahendran claiming he has brought the council into “disrepute”.
 

The authority has been rocked by emailgate after Mr Mahendran sent a note to all councillors criticising an attack made on one of his senior members of staff.
 

The email, sent after Tory John Dornan criticised one of the authority’s solicitors at a public meeting, has caused a rift across the politcal spectrum with Conservative council leader Tony Ball revealing he had not even been notified about the Mr Mahendran’s email before it was sent.
 

Now Jilly Hyde, Tory councillor for Laindon Park, has emailed Mr Mahendran back and blasted his comments.
 

In the latest email, leaked to the Echo, she wrote: “You, in your careless disregard, have brought this council into disrepute.
 

“You have the audacity to ignore the damage you may have caused John, both personally and politically, and in doing so, you jeopardise his election hopes this May.
 

“If you had not considered the damage a leaked email may have done, then your judgement is in serious question.”
 

Mr Mahendran sent his email following a full council meeting where Labour councillors stormed out after Mr Dornan launched a scathing attack on their party. He had been supposed to be making an apology to veteran Labour councillor Bill Archibald for making “ageist” comments.
 

In his speech Mr Dornan said a council solicitor had “vetoed” his attempts to get the council to change its stance on naming councillors who are the subject of a complaint about their conduct unless allegations were upheld.
 

Mr Mahendran objected to the criticism of one of his officers and sent an email saying the comments were “inappropriate and unacceptable.”
 

Mr Mahendran has now sent another email claiming his first note was meant to “remind” councillors that officers exist to give professional advice and guidance and that any concerns about them should be raised with Mr Mahendran.
 

His email added: “I am sure you will agree that we live in challenging times.
 

“It is essential that we individually and collectively now move forward and focus our resources and attention on the corporate agenda of the council and that we work together for the benefit of our community and to protect the reputation of the council.”