A COUNCILLOR who left the borough to run a pub in Devon while still claiming a £10,000 allowance, is to be investigated by the Standards Board for England.

West Wickham councillor Chris Wordingham insists he is acting in the best interests of the people who elected him.

But the Standards Board, which investigates alleged breaches of the local authority code of conduct, has asked an Ethical Standards officer to carry out an investigation on its behalf.

The matter was brought to its attention by independent councillor Rod Reed, after the Tory's absence was exposed in News Shopper newspaper.

It was revealed Cllr Wordingham did not hold surgeries and could not be contacted by telephone or email.

The standards officer can decide to drop the matter or refer it for further investigation to a local or nationalpanel.

Cllr Wordingham was made redundant from his accountancy job in Bromley 18 months ago and moved to Devon with his wife in April.

He says he will be standing down at the elections next May but has decided not to resign in the meantime.

Cllr Wordingham says a "straw poll" among West Wickham residents showed they were "not interested in a local by-election so close to the general election" and the cost to hold one was also a factor.

By-elections cost an average of £5,000 depending on factors, such as the ward's population size.

Although he resigned from committees in May, he says he still attends resident's forums and full council meetings, although he missed one in July.

Cllr Wordingham still claims his £9,470 allowance but said: "All of that money will go to organisations in West Wickham but I don't want to name them in case they get drawn into the politics and have to refuse it."