REVEALED Town hall expenses bill
Scarborough Borough Council officers and councillors claimed enough mileage in the last financial year to travel around the world – and then some.
chief executive Jim Dillon who claimed for 415 miles to Oxfordshire for a Local Government Strategy Forum in June 2016.
The most travelled councillor was Mike Cockerill who covered a total of 3,228 miles in the last financial year, totalling £1,452.60 – which equates to the distance from Scarborough to Jerusalem.
The Filey councillor said “It doesn’t surprise me,” due to his involvement in the planned restoration of Whitby piers.
One trip to London, in May last year, involved attending a Royal Garden Party.
Cllr Cockerill took an £18 taxi from King’s Cross station Only 20 of the 50 Scarborough borough councillors claimed expenses during the financial year of 2016/17, accumulating 27,145 miles costing £12,215.
Council officers Nick Edwards, Jim Dillon, Lisa Dixon and Trevor Watson travelled 5,191 miles, bringing the total to 32,336.
The longest journey claimed for was the council’s
trip to a multi-screen cinema – tallying 232 miles.
Cllr John Nock, who represents Mulgrave ward in Whitby, travelled to Gateshead for a taxi licensing seminar, covering 143 miles. While in the north east he also claimed £5.20 for parking.
The expenses claimed are in addition to the basic and responsibility allowances each councillor receives for the financial year.
A spokesman for Scarborough Council said: “Members of the directors’ team are designated as essential users; dictated by their senior roles and responsibilities, the nature of which makes it essential for them to have a motor car at their disposal whenever required, including being on standby out of office hours as part of the council’s emergency response team, for example, in cases of flooding.
“All are entitled to claim the essential user monthly lump sum, which compensates for the wear and tear on their vehicles.
“In addition to the lump sum, they are entitled to claim for each mile of the journeys they undertake when on council related business.
“However, not all directors claim for their short journeys, so the published figures do not convey the full extent of the mileage they undertake and for which the lump sum is designed to cover.
“All essential users are kept under review and if any staff member, director or otherwise, is found not to be meeting the criteria, the designation will be removed.”
The spokesman added: “Councillors are fairly reimbursed for the important role they do in carrying out council related business and representing the interests of the communities that elected them.
“This allows all councillors, regardless of personal financial position, to carry out their duties without the worry of being financially disadvantaged.
“This equality is very important in ensuring the role of councillor is achievable to anyone who wishes to stand for election.” to his hotel before having a £57 evening meal and £21 breakfast.
After the party the following day he called a cab from the Palace to King’s Cross via his hotel costing at total of £35 of taxpayers’ money.
The Independent councillor bought a “snack” on his return train journey costing a total of £12.45.
He told The Scarborough News that the snack was for him and two other people, who were not members of Scarborough Borough Council.
However, Cllr Cockerill said: “They were all part of the group. It is all in line with relevant regulations.”
He completed his journey home to Filey with a taxi costing £10 leaving his expenditure for his onenight stay £153.45 – excluding a hotel which was paid for in advance by the council.
The mayor at the time, Cllr Simon Green, also attended the Queen’s Garden Party and claimed a total of £78.60 in taxi fares and staying in the same hotel as his colleague Cllr Cockerill.
Cllr Cockerill said: “We were in a party of six so we had to [get two taxis]. We had a tight schedule so it wouldn’t have been possible on public transport.”
Cllr Green said he shared a taxi to Buckingham Palace with a wheelchair user in an “unrelated” capacity. Taxpayers paid the bill.
Council leader Derek Bastiman claimed for two trips to the capital in the previous financial year including as a guest of Welcome to Yorkshire for the Lord Mayor’s Parade – claiming a £109 bed and breakfast for the night and a £10 taxi.
Welcome to Yorkshire also invited Cllr Bastiman to London again in February and he claimed a further £109 for a hotel.
The Cabinet member was the biggest spender when it came to miscellaneous expenses adding up to £282.20, accounting to 31% of the overall total of £908.07, including £7.95 in August 2016 for “refreshments whilst viewing squash courts”.
Conservative councillor David Jeffels claimed 27% of the council’s total submitted travel expenses of £642.20 mainly for two trips to London.
In October, council director Nick Edwards transported two of his colleagues to Newark for a