NEGOTIATIONS are ongoing between the county council and Lord Hanningfield in a bid to re-coup potentially wrongly-claimed expenses.

Essex County Council wrote to the former leader and set a deadline of July 7 for repayment of £50,689.24 calculated as expenditure made not for legitimate council business or where no evidence has been provided.

However almost a month later the authority has confirmed no money has been received and talks are continuing with Lord Hanningfield, real name Paul White.

An Essex County Council spokesman said: “We have met with Lord Hanningfield to discuss the issues with him and determine a way forward. We will not be issuing further statements whilst this is ongoing.”

  • The Gazette was unable to contact Lord Hanningfield for comment.