Councillor claims expenses while in Spain - claim

Published on 29th March 2007 in News

An East Riding ward and Goole Town councillor accused of claiming expenses while in Spain has said he is being attacked because of his stance on the town's proposed arts centre.

Goole Town councillor Kester Dean claimed that Cllr Eric Raddings, who is the ward councillor for Goole North, has "often" been unavailable to residents.

Cllr Dean said: "Many people have approached me over the last few years saying they have been unable to get hold of Cllr Raddings and rumours have been circulating that this is because he spends most of the year in Spain."

Under the Freedom of Information Act, Cllr Dean requested his fellow councillor's attendance record and said: "Having received this information, it would appear that there are regular periods of an average of two to three weeks when there is no record of Cllr Raddings having participated in any ERYC business.

"These periods match times when Cllr Raddings has also been absent from Goole Town Council.

"This evidence supports the theory that Cllr Raddings spends much of his time in Spain."

But Cllr Raddings told the Goole Times he believes he has been attacked by Cllr Dean because of his opposition to the new arts centre and his belief that it is poor value for money.

He also claimed the allegations were factually incorrect and said: "This financial year I have received only the basic councillor allowance of £10,072 plus £132 IT plus travel expenses for my 31 official committee meetings, which include all full council meetings bar one.

"I also have made numerous site visits, local issue visits and party meetings in Beverley, which make up the residue of my travel expenses.

"As for my holidays, I have had three holidays during the year, plus one when the council is in recess."

Cllr Raddings also said that while he was on holiday, he could be contacted by telephone and email and was in constant touch with his co-ward councillor, Jean Kitchen.