COUNCILLORS who overclaimed expenses should pay back the money, like MPs were forced to, an opposition member has said during a heated meeting on the issue.

A report by Southend Council’s audit team into members’ travel and subsistence claims found some claims were “inappropriate” and “irregular” but there had been no deliberate fraud or wrongdoing.

Following allegations which included councillors claiming two lots of mileage for back to back meetings, the team examined all expenses forms between April and December 2009. Their findings were discussed by the council’s audit committee.

Independent leader Martin Terry, who is not on the committee, asked for councillors who wrongly claimed to pay their money back and compared it to the MPs’ expenses scandal which engulfed Westminster last year.

He said: “In light of the scandal at Westminster, we have to be very careful to be seen to be doing everything squeakily clean.

“Those who have taken taxpayers’ money innocently, but incorrectly, still have money they’re not entitled to.

“They should be asked to repay that money.”

Mr Terry said they would refer the report to full council to discuss the issue after chairman Brian Kelly (Con, Southchurch) said the committee had no power to address it.

Mr Kelly said: “If the claims were wrong, the checking of the claims was also wrong.

“Anything that was questionable should have been queried.

“The amount of money involved is not substantial.”

The head of the council’s internal audit, Linda Everard, said the claims process had not been as “robust” as it should and it had since been improved and updated.

But some members expressed concerns about the report’s findings and wanted more details.

Ron Woodley (Ind, Thorpe), whose initial complaints with Lib Dem leader Graham Longley prompted the investigation, said: “I don’t think there were any significant weaknesses with the old system.

“Forty-six of the councillors in total found the system totally clear and only a few didn’t.”

Mr Kelly said the £4,200 cost of the investigation was about half of the total cost of the expenses claimed for the period examined.

He also warned Mr Woodley against saying officers had not produced a good report, adding: “If you want to say it’s not fair, that’s a very dangerous course to go down because it impugns the reputation of qualified auditors.

“Either you accept the report or reject it.”

Members voted five to two to approve the report.

***** TEMPERS flared over the issue of councillors’ travel expenses at a meeting on the issue.

The council’s audit committee met to discuss the report by Southend Council’s audit team into members’ travel claims.

Tory deputy leader John Lamb said he was happy to defend all his claims because he spent many more hours working and travelling due to his extra responsibilities.

Mr Lamb has claimed £2,193 in the past financial year, the highest of any member, on top of a special allowance of £15,567.

All councillors receive a basic allowance of £8,300 and cabinet members get a special allowance because of the extra work they are expected to do.

Mr Lamb said: “We do get an additional allowance.

“We also do a tremendous amount of extra hours working on all sorts of committees.

“We do many more hours than normal council members.

“I’ve no problems in standing up, fighting my own corner and defending my own expenses, because I do a tremendous amount of work and travel.”

Stephen George (Lab, Kursaal) said: “I was a cabinet member in 1999-2000. I’m fully aware of the additional hours we had to put in.

“The allowance was then much lower and I didn’t claim any travel mileage while serving as a cabinet member.”

Mr Lamb responded: “There have been a number of meetings you were due to attend as a councillor and you’ve never turned up to.”

Mr George replied: “Don’t throw that one on me.”