Merton councillors try to defend living outside London (From Your Local Guardian)

Merton councillors try to defend living outside London

12:06pm Wednesday 16th July 2008

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Four councillors who represent areas of Merton without living in the borough or even in London have defended their record in office.

All are claiming a basic allowance of £8,000 and believe they are able to adequately communicate with residents in their ward by phone and email.

Last week the Wimbledon Guardian revealed that Labour's Leighton Veale lives in Cardiff while Jonathan Warne, Conservative, represents his constituents from Glasgow. Marc Hanson, Conservative, lives in Elmbridge and Steve Austin, Labour, lives in Somerset.

Abbey Ward councillor, Marc Hanson, who has attended the most meetings of the four, said: "I live in Elmbridge, just three and a half miles from Merton. Clearly distance from my ward is no hindrance to my being able to do my job."

But Longthornton Councillor, Steve Austin, who lives in Somerset and has attended only two council meetings this year, said: "I was duly elected and deal with resident's issues on a daily basis. I don't see how this matters."

Leighton Veale, also a Longthornton councillor, agreed that it was not an ideal situation but he was still able to carry out his duties by email and phone.

He said that forcing a by-election every time a councillor moved out of the borough would result in unnecessary expense to the tax payer.

In a statement, Councillor Jonathan Warne echoed this point, but said his move away from Merton was only in the short term.

He said: "I am still very much active in local campaigns and work closely with my fellow ward councillors to ensure nothing falls between the cracks. I also attend council meetings."

Under Government rules, a councillor must live or work in the borough to become elected, but they are free to claim an allowance, even if they subsequently move elsewhere.

Last week, leader of Merton's Labour group, Stephen Alambritis criticised his councillors for leaving a "democratic deficit" in their ward and called for the law to be changed.

But Merton's Conservative council leader David Williams said that this was "not a big deal", adding that his councillors were still able to communicate with their ward.

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