A report has revealed how Castle Point's former leader pressured councillors to back housing plans for his son and holidayed in a developer’s Barbados villa three times. 

Norman Smith, who resigned earlier this month, has been suspended by the Tory party.

A report found he broke the council’s code of conduct last year.

It found he attempted to convince several councillors to support a planning application submitted by his son Lewis last year.

The report also revealed how he had jetted off to a developer’s villa in Barbados three times, insisting he paid £8,500 for his family to use it.

Bernard Litman, who owns the villa, then submitted a planning application for 15 flats on Canvey High Street.

Fearing the plans would be rejected, Mr Smith requested for a Government inspector to further inspect the plans.

The former leader was found to have “attempted to secure an advantage for his friend.”

But Mr Smith insists he regrets his actions surrounding his son’s planning application, and in hindsight, “wouldn’t do it again.”

He said: “In hindsight, I shouldn’t have spoken to them, but they approached me, not the other way around.

“I regret the issues surrounding my son, but I refute the allegations that I used it for free.

"I paid for my family to use it. I’m a multi-millionaire, I don’t need to be using a villa for free.”

He also attended Mr Litman’s garden parties.

Mr Smith added: “As the leader of the council, you will always get people coming up to to speak about anything, I should have just declined. Unfortunately I think this is just childish politics.

“All Tory councillors will have attended the garden parties, they were to raise funds for the party.”

Read more: 'Millionaire' ex-council leader's response in full

A spokesman from the Castle Point Conservatives added: “Norman Smith was suspended from the party on March 3, following a complaint made of serious alleged misconduct on a number of matters relating to planning.

“We were informed that the matters were under investigation by Castle Point Council and, having had this confirmed by the council’s monitoring officer, agreed to wait until the council concluded their investigation and released their final report before taking further action so as not to prejudge the outcome.

"The Conservative party has strict rules governing the conduct of councillors. Any alleged violation of those rules will be taken very seriously.”