A COUNCIL has been reported to the Audit Commission amid a row over the payment of a so-called “clothing allowance” to its chairwoman and her deputy.

Liberal Democrat Mark Wilkes said he has written to the District Auditor to ask for an investigation into the “legality and probity” of the Durham County Council allowance which totals £12,000 a year.

The Labour-run council has announced a review of civic allowances, but Coun Wilkes, who represents Framwellgate Moor, said nothing short of scrapping the payment will do.

He said: “When the new unitary council was formed the constitution included a full list of all allowances and expenses allowable for elected members.

“The clothing allowance was not included in this.

“It is not in the constitution and has never been published."

Since The Northern Echo revealed the allowance, it has been variously described by Labour party councillors and council officials as an “expense of office”, “a civic allowance” and “not a clothing allowance” – despite council documentation previously describing it as such.

Meanwhile, council chairwoman Linda Marshall, who already receives a special allowance for her role, said money from the allowance was for “unavoidable costs”, including charity events, cards and catering.

But Coun Wilkes said: “No-one really knows what it is spent on as no receipts are produced.

“I don’t really understand her comments and in particular why she would need to spend her own allowance on catering.”

Leader of the Lib Dems on the council, Nigel Martin, added: “Durham County Council has a duty to ensure that the money it spends on behalf of Durham taxpayers is spent in an open and transparent manner."

Council leader Simon Henig recently suggested the chairman’s role could be merged with that of the Durham City mayor in a move saving hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

He has also accused opponents of the Labour Party of “political grandstanding”.