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THE CHAIRMAN OF the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA), Tory Councillor Brian Coleman, claimed nearly £400 from brigade funds to make a taxi journey across town to attend a glittering banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor.
The revelation—which will outrage firefighters and taxpayers alike— comes as brigade managers seek to make savings across the board, claiming the organisation is entering a period of severe financial austerity.
Details of the claim were uncovered following a Freedom of Information request by the Fire Brigades Union.
On 10 November 2008, Cllr Coleman was among the Lord Mayor’s invited guests for his annual banquet at the Guildhall. Others attending included the Prime Minister and Archbishop of Canterbury.
Rather than make the short hop across London using the free travelcard that comes with his position, Coleman decided to arrive in style by black taxi. The return fare itself totaled £104, but the bulk of the cost—an eye-watering £264—was incurred due to the driver being told to wait for five hours on the pavement, while Coleman was inside hob-nobbing it with the rich and powerful. A service charge of £28 was also paid by the brigade.
When it comes to excessive expense claims, Coleman has been a serial offender. Last year he was the subject of widespread criticism after it was revealed that he ran-up a colossal £8,000 in taxi fares—more than the other 24 members of the Greater London Assembly put together.
It would appear, though, he was not deterred by the bad press he received then.
In another twist, the claim for the banquet came in the same month that Coleman attempted to push through huge budget cuts in the London Fire Brigade, including job cuts among support staff, the scrapping of photographer posts and the closure of the brigade museum. F BU REGIONAL Secretary, Joe MacVeigh, said, ‘It’s difficult to know what London firefighters and taxpayers have done to deserve having this man at the helm. He is everything a decent politician shouldn’t be: he is egocentric, he’s a self-publicist, and he is reckless with the public’s money.
“David Cameron has disciplined his own MPs for much less than what Brian Coleman is guilty of, so the question needs to be asked why he is getting away with it. “Coleman is doing huge damage both to the reputation of the London Fire Brigade and the morale of its staff, and I actually have a modicum of sympathy with the Commissioner and other senior managers who have the good grace to feel embarrassed by his antics. Londoners deserve better.” Councilor Coleman refused to comment.
Straight8
That's outrageous.
He never used mine.
Good fare that one.
BlazingPalace
Are we really surprised by his actions?
Blaze Bear
BlazingPalace wrote:
Are we really surprised by his actions?
Not anymore, just surprised we allow this guy to take the tax payer for a ride like he does
BlazingPalace
Blaze Bear wrote:
BlazingPalace wrote:
Are we really surprised by his actions?
Not anymore, just surprised we allow this guy to take the tax payer for a ride like he does
Just like those MP's ?
Straight8
It wasn't a Taxi it was a Miniscab.
The invoice is now on the FBU website.
BlazingPalace
Like it make's it any better we can read it! I just do not understand why the brigade do not apply the same rules to him as they do to us, was it reasonable, answer no !
