RESIDENTS are being asked to vote on whether parish council officers should face disciplinary action for using the authority’s credit card for private use.

Several members of Ferryhill Town Council are to conduct a parish poll, similar to a referendum, on the subject today.

The poll question is: Should Ferryhill Town Council begin immediate disciplinary procedures against any officer who has used the council’s debit card to purchase goods and services for themselves?

The group’s action concerns the council’s executive officer, Jamie Corrigan, who has admitted using the council’s card nine times.

He used it to buy £459.54 worth of personal items after claiming he mixed it up with his own card. He apologised and paid the money back.

The outcome of the poll is not believed to be legally binding on the council.

Councillor Dave Farry, who supports the poll, said: “A council’s debit card is for emergency use only. For a member of staff to use it nine times is not really acceptable.

“People in Ferryhill want transparency and they’re not getting it. If people are not happy, they’ve the right to call a parish poll.”

Votes on the poll can be made between 4pm and 8pm by those on Ferryhill’s electoral register. Polling stations are at Ferryhill Catholic Club, St Luke’s Parish Centre, Broom Cottages Primary and Nursery School, the Literary Institute and Community Centre, the Royal British Legion Club, Mainsforth Community Association.

Mr Corrigan said: “I think there’s been a prolonged period of action against myself by certain councillors and I’m in the process of taking action as a result.

“The parish poll does not carry any powers so legally the parish council does not have to act on it whatever the result.”