Brighton resident felt 'mocked' after councillors laughed at expenses concerns

In a council meeting in October last year, Laura King asked the leader of the council Phelim Mac Cafferty whether it was appropriate for “two of the wealthiest councillors” to claim childcare expenses for council meetings over Zoom during Covid.

Ms King was laughed at and jeered as she raised her question, while councillors applauded when Cllr Mac Cafferty defended the council’s provision of childcare expenses to allow for greater diversity among elected representatives.

An investigation by The Argus later found that Councillor Alex Phillips had overclaimed childcare expenses on several occasions, prompting an independent inquiry into her expenses.

That inquiry found she had overclaimed for 55 of her 74 childcare expense claims between October 2019 and March 2021, with potential overpayments totalling to as much as £482.34.

Councillor Alex Phillips (left) with husband and fellow councillor Tom Druitt

Speaking to The Argus, Ms King said: “I felt disrespected and humiliated when my question about councillor expenses was mocked by the council chamber.

“It felt like it was the Greens' means of deterring and even cancelling public questions under their administration; trying to make the public feel stupid for asking questions, even when they are completely valid - as it turned out to be the case.”

She also criticised the councillors’ attitude towards residents and claimed that the administration “refuses to engage with real and local issues”.

Ms King said: “They would far rather waste council time discussing international or political issues over which our council has no jurisdiction or pushing through their own projects and agendas which we have not asked or voted for at public expense.”

In a meeting of full council on Thursday night, Ms King asked Cllr Mac Cafferty to apologise for the overclaims of childcare expenses made by Cllr Phillips and for the behaviour of those who "booed, hissed at, and shut down" members of the public who raised concerns about expenses at council meetings. 

In response to Ms King's question, Cllr Phillips repeated her apologies for overclaiming for expenses and said: “There has been a thorough independent and transparent review of the issue. 

“Recommendations have been agreed to improve the process so there is absolute confidence in how members’ claims are administered, which will mean there is clearer guidance and systems in place.

“It was never my intention to make claims which were not in line with the council’s policies and procedures. I have publicly and sincerely apologised and make it clear that I will work to ensure that any future claims, including for childcare, are in line with the council’s policies and procedures.”

Ms King went on to say that any other person would have been sacked for gross misconduct in similar circumstances and asked whether Cllr Phillips would resign. The councillor refused to comment further.