Worthing councillors splash cash (From The Argus)

Worthing councillors splash cash

1:30pm Tuesday 1st December 2009 in

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Councillors enjoyed receptions and dinners, costing taxpayers thousands each year.

Worthing Borough Council has been criticised after it was revealed it had spent more than £19,000 on members’ hospitality since 2003 and upped expenditure during recession-hit 2008-9.

Ian Ross, Labour parliamentary candidate for Worthing West, said: “The council clearly doesn’t see the need to cut back splashing the cash on councillors’ receptions and dinners.”

A Freedom of Information request by Mr Ross showed hospitality costs for members was £5,146 in 2005-6, £4,617 in 2006-7, £4,305 in 2007-8 and £5,073 in 2008-9.

The mayor’s office, on a separate budget, ran up £1,570 costs in the four months to July.