Taxpayers fork out for councillor's lunch because he needed a 'proper meal'
A COUNCILLOR claimed lunch using taxpayers' cash as he needed a "proper meal" instead of the finger buffet provided.
Lincolnshire County Council member Roy Chapman made the £8.30 expenses claim, the maximum allowed under council rules, after attending a Churches Together meeting in Lincoln.
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Lincolnshire County Council.
In a note to council staff scrutinising expenses claims, the Conservative councillor for Colsterworth Rural wrote: "Finger buffet provided, but I needed a proper meal."
According to the county council's accounts for 2009/10, the claim from April 29, 2009, was approved. Mr Chapman declined to comment yesterday.
Other council costs from the last financial year include £6.69 million in mileage from councillors and officers travelling on council business.
Within this total, the smallest claim was from Conservative councillor Ray Phillips who was reimbursed for a one-mile round trip.
The Bassingham member had driven from his South Hykeham home to a South Hykeham Parish Council meeting. Mileage is paid at 40p a mile.
Mr Phillips told the Echo: "South Hykeham is a long, drawn out parish and the trip is actually a two-mile round trip. But because I am so thoughtful I claim a nominal mile.
"The AA running costs for a diesel car are said to be 51.7p per mile. This is a worry all councillors raise as we get 40p per mile."
One of the longest journeys claimed for was a 430-mile round trip to allow Liberal Democrat Councillor Reg Shore to interrupt a holiday in Hampshire so he could attend a council committee meeting in July last year.
None of these claims break the rules of the county council's members' allowances scheme.
The authority added all expenses requests were subject to heavy scrutiny.
Failed claims included attempts to claw back costs for printer ink cartridges and broadband internet use.
Hykeham South and Skellingthorpe member Mr Shore said: "I cannot remember back over a year as to exactly why I felt it important to attend that particular children and young people scrutiny meeting.
"But I can say it may have had something important on the agenda that I felt needed to be commented upon and, as I take my council work seriously, that would have been reason enough for me to drive across the country if I couldn't find a substitute.
"I do not claim unnecessarily and have one of the lowest claim records of any county councillor.
"For this reason I never take lunch, as I believe that we should pay for it like everyone else."
County council head of democracy and communications Debbie Cook said: "Every claim made by our councillors is checked to make sure it complies and details of all expenses are published every year.
"The scheme can be seen on our website and is approved by an independent panel to make sure it is fair and in line with expenses paid by other local authorities.
"There is no minimum claim that can be put forward."
25 Comments
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by Robin Bar Stewards, Gravy Train to no where
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 7:14AM
“All politics are the same, doesn't matter if its a "proper meal" or cleaning the duck pond in your county palace.
They all use our money to line their own pockets.”
by Joe, Lincoln
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 6:59AM
“Emma, I think you're missing the point that Roy Chapman's meal had already been provided for him.
Why he thought it was right to claim another £8.30 for a second meal goodness knows, but it would be interesting to know whether he actually bought that second meal, or whether he simply pocketed the cash.”
by Emma, Lincoln
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:49PM
“But Gnome, we don't pay everybody £8.30 for lunch every day of the year and we never will. We don't even pay Councillor Chapman £8.30 for lunch every day and we never will.
He has a job where, under certain circumstances, he can claim for subsistence off his employer. This is hardly a novel concept, even within the private sector.
He found himself in those circumstances and he made a legitimate claim. Was he being greedy by claiming the maximum amount possible? Possibly.
However, you seem to be under the illusion that we can legislate inequality out of life. You are, of course, on a hiding to nothing. But if you insist on trying, then there are some bigger fish you could be frying. Starting with a former MP treating herself to £850's worth of chair and stool at the taxpayer's expense.
http://mps-expenses.guardian.co.uk/page/247537/”
by Gnome Chomsky, County Hall
Monday, September 06 2010, 10:18PM
“Emma, you are spot on. This guy's claim for £8.30 for a second lunch is nothing compared to the national debt. Until you start to think what would happen if we paid everybody £8.30 for a lunch, every day of the year.
We are all part of his country, we all play our part in the future payments to dole scroungers and war veterans, we all make this country what it is.
I'm sorry I picked on you, as I usually respect your posts. I've had a long day, in public service, eating my own pack-up.
We desperately need to iron out inequality in society, and a councillor who thinks a second free lunch is a guaranteed right is not reading the papers or watching the news.”
by Food for nought, lincoln
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:07PM
“Assuming the Council is like every other large organisation it will have probably cost around £60 to process his claim. That now puts the UK debt at £940,000,000,000,068.30”