Mayor facing inquiry over expenses row

DONCASTER'S elected mayor Peter Davies has dismissed an official complaint about his conduct and described it as a "scurrilous attempt" by political opponents to discredit him.

The mayor was reported to Doncaster Council's standards committee over allegations he brought the authority into disrepute while making enquiries about the expenses of a councillor.

A full investigation has now been launched into the accusations which centre around a row Mr Davies had with the former civic mayor and current Lib Dem group leader Coun Paul Coddington.

It is alleged Mr Davies broke the council's code of conduct when he asked senior officers to find details of expenses claimed by Coun Coddington for attending functions as the civic mayor.

He is said to have further breached regulations by forwarding the claims to a local newspaper.

But yesterday Mr Davies said as far as he was concerned, the whole situation was a "political spat" sparked when his own expenses were published prompting comment from Coun Coddington.

"I have to say that it was a political spat four months ago, and I wonder why it has taken so long for an official complaint to be made. I am not concerned about the outcome."