COUNCIL leaders have been challenged over concerns that public money is being wasted amid calls to reveal information they say is private and confidential.

An online meeting of Northallerton town Council was held after a group of councillors called for a full meeting.

During the public forum, resident Steven Pattison asked Mayor Councillor John Forrest what action they would be taking following recent negative publicity that the town council was not being transparent and there were grave concerns that public money was being wasted because of ongoing issues within the council.

He added: “It’s all about public money and we as the public need to know.”

Cllr Forrest said: “The public will get to know in due course at the moment some things are private and confidential.”

But Mr Pattison challenged: “Public money isn’t private and confidential.”

Cllr Forrest added: “The information leading up to the spend is confidential. “At the moment because of Covid-19 certain meetings can’t be held as soon as they are held everything will be brought to light.”

Mr Pattison called for the information to be revealed at a public meeting which he would be able to attend.

He added: “You are wasting public money. I personally have no confidence in you or the department. The Deputy Mayor is on the financial committee despite not paying council tax is that OK? It’s like having Dick Turpin as the treasurer.”

Deputy Mayor councillor Claire Palmer said a recent newspaper article was years out of date. “I can assure you I am a fully paid up council taxpayer,” she said.

A freedom of information request reported in the Northern Echo in October 2019 revealed in 2017 Cllr Palmer, who was then a Hambleton district councillor, had council tax arrears.

At last week’s meeting a decision at a previous town council meeting to give delegated powers to Mayor Cllr John Forrest, Deputy Mayor Claire Palmer and clerk Jill Johnston was rescinded.

Cllr David Richardson said there had been a lot of movement in government circles and by the Yorkshire Local Councils Association about online meetings of councils which negated the need for delegated powers.

The town hall is closed because of the coronavirus crisis; clerk Mrs Johnstone said there had been problems with accessing the website from her home but she hoped to start work on it next week.