County councillors will finally
consider an auditors’ investigation into complaints over duplicate
expenses claims today.

The investigation was triggered by a
complaint about the use of chauffeur-driven cars and private taxis
at County Hall, which alleged some members, including the deputy
leader Alex King, had made unlawful and duplicate expenses
claims.

It was alleged councillors claimed
travel expenses for journeys in their own cars that had actually
been made in KCC’s own chauffeur-driven cars.

District auditor Darren Wells has
accepted some made claims they should not have, but says
administrative errors were to blame.

In the final version of his report
into the saga, due to be presented to members of KCC’s audit
committee, Mr Wells says he has not found any evidence of
deliberate abuse or fraud and that he has not seen "deliberate
circumvention of the council’s policy for personal gain."

However, he says duplicate claims to
the tune of £430.80 were made although he accepts the council’s
explanation that these were ‘administrative errors.’ The money has
since been paid back.

The investigation led to KCC
suspending the use of chauffeur-driven cars and taxis by
councillors for private purposes while a review was conducted. That
is examining whether this should have been deemed a taxable
benefit.