Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeff McLaughlin was driving a council car when he was allegedly caught under the influence of drugs last week, sources have told the NT Independent, raising questions about his proposed “personal leave” and what benefits he will be entitled to.

Council is expected to vote to approve the mayor’s leave on Thursday, that would see Mr McLaughlin continue to drive the car as well as continue to collect his taxpayer-funded allowance while he awaits a court appearance to answer to the charges.

Mr McLaughlin was arrested last Monday morning for alleged drug driving in Tennant Creek, after his vehicle was stopped about 10:15am.

Police allege he returned a positive road side test result for cannabis, and they later found “a number of cannabis plants and material” at a Tennant Creek residence, but did not specify if it was his house.

The next day, Police media manager Rob Cross said the man had been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, supplying less than a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug, possessing less than a traffickable quantity of a schedule 2 drug, and cultivating less than a traffickable quantity of a prohibited plant.

The NT Independent first identified the man was Mayor of the Barkly Regional Council Jeff McLaughlin. Chief executive officer Emma Bradbury later told the ABC that she and council were aware of the matter.

“These are matters that are private to the mayor,” the ABC reported her as having said.

The ABC said she added the matters were in the hands of NT Police and were separate to his role at council.

She was quoted in the Tennant Creek and District Times making similar claims.

“The charges are a private matter and unrelated to his role as mayor so it is inappropriate for council or councillors to comment on the matter,” she said.

A later ABC article reported Ms Bradbury said Mr McLaughlin began “personal leave” on Tuesday afternoon over “personal matters”.

Mr McLaughlin reportedly issued a statement saying that for him “to continue in working as the public face of council through this time will detract from our work.”

The ABC reported Ms Bradbury said the council supported the mayor’s decision.

However, it is understood that councillors are to vote to approve the mayor’s personal leave on Thursday night, which would allow him to continue to collect his allowance of nearly $8,000 a month and have access to the car.

Multiple sources have told the NT Independent the major was driving a Barkly Regional Council car when he was pulled over, allegedly with drugs in his system, and that he was working that day, with the incident occurring during business hours.

Mr McLaughlin has not responded to phone calls from the NT Independent.

The council did not respond to questions about whether Mr McLaughlin had been driving a council car, if he had been working when he was arrested, and if so, why they had publicly said it was a private matter.

The council was asked what action it would usually take against a staff member who was allegedly caught driving a council car under the influence of drugs, as well as what risk analysis they had taken when considering to allow Mr McLaughlin to continue to drive the car, considering the charge.

They also would not say if there had been any reports to council about the mayor being under the influence of drugs before his arrest, and if there were, what action was taken.

The Tennant Creek and District Times reported the charges don’t require the mayor to be suspended under the Local Government Act.