A LABOUR councillor has been criticised by her own party after it emerged she claimed back almost £1500 for taxi trips – including an outing to see Outlaw King.
Lezley Marion Cameron, who is Edinburgh Council’s vice-finance chief, charged for 80 separate trips in the space of a year, including more than 50 from or to her home.
Her journeys, which included visits to the pub, represent 23% of the authority's £6524 councillors' taxi bill since May 2017.
The councillor says she will repay fees for personal journeys but insisted the two cinema trips – to see Robert the Bruce epic Outlaw King and superhero film Avengers: Infinity War – were on behalf of Film Edinburgh and therefore linked to her council job.
Revealed by a freedom of information request, the figures show the vice-convener of finance and resources billed taxpayers for a taxi to her home from the Barrelhouse Bar and Grill.
Justifying the outlay, the Labour politician said she was one of Edinburgh’s “busiest councillors” and admitted she had lost count of personal trips.
Cameron also said the taxi journeys were necessary due to health issues and personal safety concerns.
“I will use a taxi if I'm running late or if I'm asked at short notice to sub for a colleague,” she said. “I don't know how personal ones have ended up on there.”
"I'm one of the busiest councillors and I have a lot of meetings across the city both for constituents and my role in the administration.
"On a strictly personal note, I have also used black cabs in the course of fulfilling my council duties when, for health reasons, when driving or going by bus isn't an option and, given the variable and extensive hours of working. Sometimes for reasons of personal safety, I take a taxi."
However, Labour group leader Cammy Day insisted the trips should not come at the taxpayers’ expense.
He said: "Anybody who uses taxis for personal reasons should not be charging the taxpayer for it. She has a responsible position within the administration and I'm sure she will do the right thing."
Opposition parties called for Cameron to apologise.
Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs said: "This money could have been put to much better use to help a variety of causes – opposed Cllr Cameron using it for her own personal life. I hope Cllr Cameron will apologise and the money which has been wrongly claimed must be paid back to the council."
LibDem finance spokesperson, councillor Neil Ross added: "I think councillors have a duty to act responsibly and remember that every penny spent on travel is money not being allocated to core public services."
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