By Rachel Charman
Labour PPC for Rochford and Southend East Kevin Bonavia has claimed that Liberal Democrat Cllr Graham Longley and Independent Cllr Ron Woodley are out of touch on the issue of councillors’ expenses.
Earlier today, Cllrs Longley and Woodley announced that they have launched an investigation into councillors’ travel expenses, involving the Town Clerk and the Borough Solicitor.
This evening, Mr Bonavia added his voice to the call for change on the issue, but attacked the two councillors for joining in on the issue too late.
Mr Bonavia pointed out in a statement that the figures on councillors’ expenses emerged in December 2009 after a request from Labour Cllr Stephen George.
Mr Bonavia said: “Mr Longley’s attempt to jump on the bandwagon of expenses claims comes a little late in the day, some two months after the figures were revealed.
“An investigation may come to nothing if it turns out councillors were ‘within the rules.’
“For me and many others, it’s the rules that are wrong.
“Councillors already receive a general allowance to reflect the time and cost that their duties take up.
“This should more than cover the cost of travelling within Southend, so such claims should no longer be allowed.
“If that means they can no longer afford a cab fare then perhaps they can see for themselves the not so wonderful state of Southend’s buses under this current Conservative regime.”
