The process to expel disgraced Barnet councillor Brian Coleman from the Conservative party is set to begin this evening, the Times Series understands.

Officials at the party’s Chipping Barnet branch headquarters, where the former mayor registers, are due to meet this evening to outline plans to revoke his membership.

The Totteridge representative has been suspended from the national party since he was charged with assaulting mother-of-two Helen Michael in Finchley High Road in September.

Earlier this month, the once head of the London Fire Authority pleaded guilty to the charge and was made to pay almost £1,400 in fines and costs.

Opposition leaders have since been critical of the Barnet Conservatives for their apparent failure to act on the matter almost two weeks since he admitted the criminal act.

Barnet Council leader and head of the Barnet Conservatives Richard Cornelius has failed to make a single public statement since the guilty plea.

But a Conservative representative said today that Chipping Barnet party officials will be acting to permanently revoke former GLA member Mr Coleman’s membership.

Even if he is permanently expelled from the Tory party, Mr Coleman can remain on Barnet Council as an independent until the next elections in 2014.

The representative said: “Moves are afoot to expel him and the Chipping Barnet Association will be meeting tonight to begin that process.

“The national party has been involved in it but it is still not clear who is taking a lead on it. There are processes that are laid down and if you don’t follow them, you leave yourself open to potential challenges.

“The Barnet Conservatives do not have a decision to make. He is not a member of the party and so he is not a member of our group.”