A COUNCIL leader has denied misleading the public over donations to the Labour Party from members' expenses.

Conservative members of Darlington Borough Council have condemned Councillor John Williams for denying that deductions were made from his council expenses for Labour party funds.

Last month, former Sunderland City Council leader Bryn Sidaway resigned from the Labour Party because he refused to pay a levy on his expenses to the party.

When asked for a comment on the issue, Coun Williams told The Northern Echo: "It doesn't happen."

However, earlier this month, Darlington's chief executive, Ada Burns, confirmed deductions were made from the Labour member's expenses.

In a letter to Tory councillor Ian Galletley, she wrote: "I can confirm that we collect deductions for Labour members and the funds are passed to the Labour group.

"The council's resources involved in performing these deductions are about two hours per year."

Coun Galletley said his party was very concerned at the practice.

He said: "What Labour councillors do with their allowances once they have landed in their personal bank accounts is a matter entirely for them, but it is surely wrong to ask council officers to collect the money.

"Would the council arrange for the payment of my gas bill or subscription to the National Trust? Certainly not - so why should they save the Labour Party the trouble of collecting its own funds?

"When Coun Williams said that this practice 'simply doesn't happen', did he not understand or was he trying to mislead the public?"

Coun Williams said no funds deducted from his allowance went directly to the central Labour party.

Instead, a proportion went to the National Association of Labour Councillors which looked after the administration and training of local government members.

He said: "I was asked the question 'Does the Labour group have to pay the money to the national Labour Party?'

"It doesn't happen in those terms. It's a requirement of being a Labour member that we have to pay to the national association.

"This is a fairly common procedure in both the public and private sector, so it's nothing unusual.

"The facility is available to other political groups on the council."

A council spokesman said other deductions which employees and members were entitled to make from their pay were union fees, council house rent and donations to Marie Curie, Save the Children and Pennies from Heaven.

l Councillor Bryn Sidaway was the Labour leader of Sunderland City Council in the 1990s.

However, last month he controversially quit the party, after being a member for nearly 50 years, on a point of principle.

He resented being asked to pay a three per cent levy on his £7,000 allowance.

He has since made complaints to Northumbria Police and the Standards Board for England.

Coun Sidaway resigned shortly before a meeting of the ruling Labour group at which he was expected to be expelled.

He said he already paid party subs, group fees and Association of Labour Councillors fees and, therefore, was not prepared to pay what he said amounted to a further £215 a year to the party.

He plans to remain an independent member for the Hendon and East End ward until next year's elections.