UNDER pressure Andy Preston says he and a top council officer were “not getting on” at one point – and a mediator had to be called in to improve relations. 

Deputy mayor Antony High and four independent executive colleagues resigned from the authority’s top executive team on Tuesday – throwing the council’s leadership into turmoil. 

In an explosive open letter, the group levelled a series of allegations at the Middlesbrough Mayor including accusations of financial management and attempts to disrupt the democratic process. 

The allegations have been vehemently denied by Mr Preston – who’s labelled the string of accusations “complete slurs”. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the mayor hit back at allegations in the letter that the LGA (Local Government Association) was called in to “alter his behaviour”.

Mr Preston said this was a “gross distortion” – and claimed it was “intended to mislead”. 

However, his post added that himself and the council’s chief executive, Tony Parkinson, were “not getting on” and “struggling to communicate in a constructive way” some months ago. 

Mr Preston said: “We both agreed to the idea of having a trusted mutual acquaintance from the LGA (Local Government Association) to sit in on some meetings with us. 

“This was an informal kind of mutual mediation and helped us to improve our working relationship. That’s all there is to it.”

Mr Parkinson offered no comment in response to Mr Preston’s account. 

The LGA has also been contacted for comment. 

Crisis hit the executive team at Middlesbrough Council on Tuesday when the group of independents wrote an open letter stating they no longer had confidence in the mayor. 

Allegations of “consistent poor conduct and behaviour” were levelled at Mr Preston by the group, alongside a string of accusations about how money was spent and decisions were made. 

The mayor hit back in a strongly worded statement on Tuesday – branding the allegations “completely untrue”. 

Mr Preston added: “If the public aren’t happy with the job I’m doing, they’ll have the opportunity to vote me out at the election in two years’ time. 

“Any attempt to force me to go before then is both undemocratic and insulting to those who voted for me or anyone else at the election.

“Yet again, this is about those who don’t like the fact that I’m a very different mayor than any other. I do things differently, I challenge the status quo and I clearly upset a few people along the way who’d like things to stay just how they are.

“Clearly some people want me to resign. But I’ve got bad news for them. I won’t.”

In the wake of the allegations, Mr Preston also revealed he had reported concerns regarding the allegations to police.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman confirmed a report had been received. 

The mayor also went on to deny allegations he’d been involved in “direct and indirect” attempts to prevent democratic decision-making processes at the council.

Mr Preston added: “Public smears and attempts to force my resignation are exactly that – a direct attempt to prevent democratic decision making by seeking to overturn the decision of the 59 per cent who voted for me at the election.”