A COUNCILLOR who did not claim any expenses is furious that his name was left off an official list.
Milnshaw ward representative Malcolm Pritchard hit out after his name was omitted from the list published as a council advertisement in last week's Observer.
It detailed who claimed what from 2003 to 2004, with council leader Peter Britcliffe taking home the most, £16,076, and former Clayton councillor John Burke claiming the least, £233.
But Councillor Pritchard, who claimed nothing, did not feature in the list for the second year running.
He told the Observer: "Even though I don't claim, my ward members are entitled to know this fact. The absence of my name from the list looks weird. It's like they've snubbed me. I am furious about this. When it happened last year I was promised it wouldn't happen again. But it has."
But council leader Peter Britcliffe defended the list.
He said: "I take his point to a certain extent. But my understanding is that the list exists to show councillors' expenses and, if Malcolm didn't claim any, how can his name be included?
"It certainly wasn't malicious and wasn't at all personal. I don't know why he doesn't claim, but good luck to him if he doesn't need the money. In the past, members on benefits haven't claimed because it would have affected those benefits.
"By publishing a zero figure it might lead the public to wonder if he's on benefits, and they have no right to know that."
Explaining why he hadn't made any claims, Councillor Pritchard said: "I don't need the money and I always said I wouldn't take it if I didn't need it. What's more, claiming expenses would affect my pension."
