Robin Meltzer, Lib Dem Kensington spokesperson, challenges Cockell's appointment to Audit Commission

1.01.00pm GMT Wed 28th Oct 2009

Robin Meltzer says Cockell's appointment runs contrary to the Audit Commission's own mission statement

As reported in today's Evening Standard, Robin Meltzer, the Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for the new constituency of Kensington, has written to the Chairman of the Audit Commission to express concerns about the appointment to the Commission of Councillor Merrick Cockell. Councillor Cockell is the leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Chairman of London Councils.

Robin Meltzer said: "There has been substantial press coverage of expensive trips taken by Councillor Cockell to the United States. Councillor Cockell claimed in a statement on the Council's website that he had only made one taxpayer-funded trip to New York. This statement was quite untrue. In fact, he made two other taxpayer-funded trips: one to Boston and one to San Francisco. I ask the question - why has he attempted to hide these trips? Councillor Cockell omitted to include any of these trips in the Member's return of expenses, which he is required to do.

"Further, during his trip to New York, Councillor Cockell used taxpayers' funds to entertain a guest at the Four Seasons restaurant. The total of the meal came to $189 for two. When pressed in a Freedom of Information request by a resident, Councillor Cockell not only refused to identify whom he dined with, but claimed that he cannot recall whom the 'colleague' might be.

"It is extraordinary that the Leader of the Council should be using such an exclusive venue to entertain a colleague on the taxpayers' expense and more extraordinary still that he cannot or will not disclose the identity of the 'guest'."

"There is also the matter of Councillor Cockell's unauthorised use of the Mayoral Bentley. He told the Kensington & Chelsea News in February 2009 that he did not use the car. Subsequently he admitted, during the course of an investigation by the Initial Assessment Sub-Committee, that he had indeed used the Bentley and its driver to take him on journeys backwards and forwards to Heathrow, as well as other journeys. I cannot understand why he therefore should have made the untrue public statement to the press.

"There has been a slow drip drip of information coming out in the press about Councillor Cockell's expenses. I have seen detailed spreadsheets detailing over £10,000 of undisclosed expenses. The time it is taking to get to the bottom of this matter is damaging the Borough and embarrassing to its residents."

Robin Meltzer has also written to Derek Myers, the Chief Executive of the Royal Borough, to ask for an independent audit of Cllr Cockell's expenses. In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Commission has referred the matter to the District Auditor who will be receiving a dossier of the information passed to Mr Meltzer by residents.

Meanwhile, Mr Meltzer has also, as advised by the Audit Commission, referred the matter to John Denham, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who appointed Councillor Cockell to the Commission.

Mr Meltzer concluded: "At the very least, I do not believe Merrick Cockell"s appointment is conducive to the Audit Commission's mission statement - 'to promote value for money for taxpayers'."

"It's time to clear this matter up once and for all by bringing everything out into the open so that the residents of the Borough can be confident that their Leading members are following the rules and conducting themselves in a manner befitting their office.

"As I see it, there are two separate points. Firstly, Councillor Cockell would appear not to have made accurate and full declarations, and on at least two occasions has misrepresented his position in print. Secondly, many of the items that Councillor Cockell has run up expenses for do not appear to me to be justifiably in the public interest."

Related Link:

Evening Standard: Cockell under fire over jaunts and Bentleys.