A RESIDENTS’ group has called for a by-election to be called after it was revealed that a councillor was not telling the truth when he said his wife did not bill taxpayers for childcare expenses while they were at a French holiday home.
The Friends of Brighton and Hove Citizens’ Action Group questioned whether Councillor Alex Phillips, who is married to Councillor Tom Druitt - the council’s joint finance lead, had spent enough time in meetings to claim over £1,400 for childcare in 2020/21.
A spokesman for the group said that members had been vindicated in their concerns after The Argus revealed that more than a quarter of claims for council meetings covered times when meetings had already finished or were yet to start.
This newspaper also revealed that Cllr Phillips made childcare claims for a council meeting and mayoral duties while at a countryside holiday home in France at the height of the first lockdown - despite Cllr Druitt previously telling The Argus that “there were no claims for anything” while the couple were there.
Brighton and Hove councillors can claim for childcare expenses through the Dependent Carer Allowance to allow them to attend meetings and can add a total of one hour of travelling time, where applicable, to allow them to travel to and from meetings - provided the child remains with the carer during that time.
A spokesman for the residents’ group said: “Previously, we have submitted questions on this matter along with others to council and have been ridiculed with booing and hissing by Green councillors, but The Argus’s story goes to prove that we were correct all the time and were fully justified in asking such questions.
“It also goes to show that we should have been listened to and action taken on those occasions.”
The group is calling for both councillors, who represent Regency ward, to stand down and for a by-election to be held.
- READ MORE: 'Not for other people to judge' - councillor defiant over thousands in childcare expenses
The spokesman said: “Their position is now untenable and they need to resign with immediate effect. The fact that Cllr Druitt is the finance lead for the Greens makes this even worse.
“We need a by-election, so that the residents of the Regency ward have the opportunity to elect candidates that they can trust to tell the truth.”
Cllr Druitt and Cllr Phillips have not responded to requests for comment.
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