Former Leicestershire County Council leader David Parson's expenses row remains 'running sore'
A council's long-running efforts to reclaim more than £4,000 from its former leader has been described as a "running sore".
Officials at Leicestershire County Council said former Tory leader David Parsons has failed to pay money back after claiming the cost of chauffeured transport to and from airports for European travel.
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Forrmer Tory leader David Parsons
Councillor Parsons disputes the total amount.
The council's corporate governance committee met on Wednesday to discuss the issue. It invoiced Coun Parsons for the sum in October.
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County Hall said he claimed expenses for 39 trips to Europe while, as leader, he was sitting on the EU's Committee of the Regions.
Officers said he should have repaid the money to the council. On Wednesday, council solicitor David Morgan said authority lawyers were in negotiations with Coun Parsons's legal representatives.
Members said they thought it was important to bring the matter to a conclusion, for the good of the council's reputation.
Committee chairman David Snartt said: "It's a running sore, in my view."
Coun Parsons stepped down as county council leader in the summer after being found to have broken codes of conduct over his European travel expense.
He went on to quit the council's Conservative Group and announce he would not seek re-election in May. He was not available for comment.
9 Comments
by lasventas
Sunday, February 17 2013, 12:02PM
“@ over2you
Re, http://tinyurl.com/blxn5ad
I note at post #209 in your link the Police and Crime Commissioner suggests you might want to consider whether seeking Civil redress would be appropriate.
So justice may be served depending on whether someone wishes to risk their home on bringing a civil case does it?
How does the CPS function then? Like a lottery....”
by over2you
Saturday, February 16 2013, 3:14PM
“@C_G_Lee
"It's about time this whole sorry saga was passed on to whichever department deals with fraud now (apparently the police don't any more!!!). This should have been treated as a criminal investigation long ago."
Apparently so...
A Police Authority stated the following In regards a council's bailiff contractor, thieving from an alleged debtor while enforcing a liability order for the local authority:
"it is not a matter for the police or its governing body and it would be an abuse of their powers for them to become so involved in these circumstances"
http://tinyurl.com/blxn5ad”
by City_C10
Friday, February 15 2013, 2:44PM
“As said before, he MUST pay these moneys back ASAP!”
by keiran
Friday, February 15 2013, 11:47AM
“Surely this is not the same council that object to the proposals put forward by the police commisioner for clarity in what it spends out of the money allocated to them,when they cannot even get £4k they gave to their former leader.Efficient or what ?”
by C_G_Lee
Friday, February 15 2013, 11:39AM
“It's about time this whole sorry saga was passed on to whichever department deals with fraud now (apparently the police don't any more!!!). This should have been treated as a criminal investigation long ago.”
by olive53
Friday, February 15 2013, 11:18AM
“If you fail to pay your council tax, you can expect a visit from the Bailiffs, why havn't they paid Mr Parson's a call??
Seems like there's one rule for him and another for us!!!!”
by Eastonian
Friday, February 15 2013, 10:56AM
“Why forget the £4, that is taxpayers' money!!
Far from a "running sore" this whole saga is a ruddy disgrace.”
by DBLeicester
Friday, February 15 2013, 10:30AM
“Forget the £4000...when does the criminal proceedings start?! Fraud and deception is fraud and deception... when will the authorities act on this crime?”
by prog_rock_fan
Friday, February 15 2013, 9:19AM
“@David Snartt: "It's a running sore, in my view."
An apt description of Mr Parsons's entire public career, really.”