Camden News - by PAUL KEILTHY Published: 9 April 2009
Warning on council expenses
AS the scrutiny of expenses and perks in government continues to grab headlines, the Town Hall’s top lawyer has written to councillors for the third time in a year to warn that they risk straying beyond the rules.
Borough solicitor Andrew Maughan said the councillors’ register of interests, for which politicians are required to record any gift or perk over £25 as well as jobs or positions which could create conflicts of interests, was a vital legal requirement.
In a report published this week, Mr Maughan wrote: “It is suspected that it is not as up to date as it might be and that all members need to consider whether or not they should be updating it now to include any gifts or hospitality they may have received. There has been a significant increase in recent Freedom of Information inquiries and press interest generally.”
The report will be heard at a Standards Committee meeting on Wednesday.