1:30pm Tuesday 1st December 2009
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.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.theargus.co.uk/trade_directory/