So Roy Smith thinks I’m wrong not to pay £40 for my Clacton Air Show ticket, while he and his Tendring First party members spend thousands of taxpayers money in expense claims and broadband connections.

Not to mention money for cabinet away days and external legal advice for their latest vicious attempt to seize power on Tendring Council.

The cost to the taxpayer for Tendring First members to connect to broadband was £2,033.88, the Conservatives cost £215.88. The cost to the taxpayer for Tendring First’s travel and subsistence was £10,758.30, the Conservative cost was £2,229.80, that’s £1,065.99 per head for Tendring First members or £90.59 for the Conservative members.

The Tendring First cabinet had an away day to discuss tactics and bond with their new political allies at a cost to the taxpayer of £225.

The Tendring First members have just orchestrated an extra council meeting to attempt to seize power because a fellow councillor died.

Not only is this a sickening act, it is so unusual, officers sought legal advice at a current cost of £900 to the taxpayer.

Tendring First councillor Roy Smith seems to be suffering memory loss.

Did he or did he not attend last year’s air show at the taxpayers’ expense?

An event he hosted at a cost of £6,000 to the taxpayer.

Did he also host the chairman’s Christmas party last year at a cost of £5,000 to the Tendring taxpayer? Mr Smith even enquired as to whether or not he could claim mileage expenses for attending the Tendring Show.

And the very day after he and his Tendring First colleagues berated me for not paying £40 for my air show ticket, Roy Smith and his wife, Pete Balbernie and his wife, and Kevin Watson, all Tendring First members, enjoyed an evening of free food, free wine and free entertainment at a town twinning event, all paid for by the taxpayer.

So Mr Smith when you and your colleagues have removed your noses from the trough, feel free to have a pop at me over £40.

Peter Halliday
Conservative councillor for
St Johns
Gorse Lane
Clacton