A RESIDENTS’ association has called for a councillor who overclaimed up to £480 in expenses to “immediately resign”.

Councillor Alex Phillips, who represents the Green Party in Regency ward on Brighton and Hove City Council, was found to have overclaimed up to £482.34 across 55 of her 74 childcare expense claims between October 2019 and March 2021 by an independent inquiry.

The period investigated included Cllr Phillips’ term as Mayor of Brighton and Hove.

Among the claims made for childcare included three bookings made in advance which did not take place as Cllr Phillips and her family were in France due to the pandemic. 

Instead of cancelling the bookings, Cllr Phillips opted to pay for the service anyway amid collapsing income for childcare providers and claimed the money back from taxpayers.

A report into her expenses said that claims were approved despite no receipts or supporting information being provided and that expenses forms submitted by Cllr Phillips could not be found by the council, with the councillor unable to provide the inquiry with a copy.

A spokesman for the Friends of Brighton and Hove Citizens Action Group described the report as “incredibly serious and damning”.

He said: “It is disgraceful that the Brighton and Hove taxpayer has been treated in this way.

“It is also extremely concerning that the report says that all expenses forms from Cllr Phillips have been lost by the council and that there are no receipts.

“Cllr Phillips must now resign - otherwise there are no standards for councillors at Brighton and Hove City Council.”

The spokesman said that members of the public had tried to raise concerns over her expenses at council meetings, but were “booed and hissed by Green councillors and shut down on many occasions”.

“The public has been proved to be correct all along,” he said.

Cllr Phillips apologised for the “small number of claims I made which were not in line with the council expenses policy” and has repaid £490 to the council.

She said: “I will work to ensure any future claims I make, including for childcare, while undertaking my duties as a councillor are in line with the councils’ policies and procedures.”