From Northern Echo:
Council refuses Echo request for more information following “clothes-gate” row
DURHAM County Council has again refused to disclose details of spending by its chairwoman and her vice-chair following the “clothing-gate” spending row.
The Northern Echo wrote to the authority to request a breakdown of items bought by Linda Marshall and Pauline Charlton over the past financial year using an additional allowance which entitles them to claim for clothing and other items associated with their ceremonial posts.
The request, using the Freedom of Information Act, was eventually refused by the council which was unable to respond within the 20 day working deadline, as set out by the Act.
The council, which apologised for the delay, said: “There is no requirement for the chairman or vice-chairman to provide a detailed breakdown of expenditure incurred.
“Therefore the council does not hold these records and cannot provide the detail requested.”
Coun Marshall and Coun Charlton can claim an additional annual allowance of £8,580 and £4,280 respectively on top of a basic allowance paid to all councillors and a “special responsibility” allowance.
The council has responded to criticism of the payments by announcing a review of all civic expenses.
Should she retain her seat in next month’s county council elections, Coun Charlton, who represents Evenwood for Labour, is expected to replace Coun Marshall in the chairwoman’s role when a new vice-chairwoman will also be appointed.
Coun Charlton was recently quoted as saying she could not turn up to civic events “in tatty clothes”.
The councillor, who said she had not spent all of her allowance and tried to shop in sales, added: “We’re the front face of the county council so we’ve got to be at least clean and tidy and well-presented.
“We work weekends and we don’t always have the time to turn around and wash clothes.”