A standards board convened to consider a complaint about the conduct of Oxford Lord Mayor Susanna Pressel is due to be held behind closed doors on Friday.

If it finds she is guilty of breaching a national code of conduct — in that she "failed to treat others with respect" — she could be publicly reprimanded or suspended from the council for three months. The complaint, from a council employee, relates to Ms Pressel's conduct regarding the felling of willow trees on Osney Island, which lies in her ward.

A campaign by herself and residents to save the 11 trees was unsuccessful.

A senior Town Hall source said: "It is all being heard in private because officers’ behaviour in relation to cutting down trees was in question."

Ms Pressel said she had been advised not to say anything, but issued the following statement: "Throughout this sorry saga I was acting on behalf of residents in my ward and other people in the city who felt strongly that at least some of these trees could be retained. I hope the committee will take that into account."