TAX PAYERS TO FOOT £1,300 INJUNCTION BID BILL

Tax payers were left to foot the 1,300 bill, after councillor Kramer tried to stop a resident distressing her.

Cllr Kramer sought an interim injunction against Evelyn Modlinger, after she claimed the 56-year-old Liberal Democrat harassed her.

But the evidence was dismissed as too thin and the case was thrown out last month.

The council initially admitted paying 450 for a top London barrister, but the real figure is TRIPLE that, with added court and processing fees.

Hastings County Court heard how a row between the two broke out last October.

Ms Modlinger, of Pevensey Road, claimed cllr Kramer had said: "How dare you talk to me, you are unemployed."

Cllr Kramer denied the claims and said Ms Modlinger had later screamed at her on Kings Road, distressing and alarming her.

At Wednesday's council meeting, written questions from a Mrs Palmer and cllr David Hancock, asked the full extent of the action.

Cllr Hancock asked the leadership to "cease their misuse of power and public funds."

Chief executive Roy Mawford answered: "It is true the judge did not make an order for an injunction, but that does not mean the legal action was inappropriate or unjustified.

"In a time when officers and members, going about their council business, are increasingly subjected to abuse and threats to their safety, the council will act to show that such behaviour will not be tolerated.

"Where legal advice indicates that court proceedings would be appropriate, then the council will normally take that action. Having done so, we could not leave staff or members in the invidious position that the council would only meet the costs if the action were successful.

"The council took independent legal advice from a barrister with specialist knowledge in this field, who recommended seeking an injunction. We decided to follow that advice."

Council leader Jeremy Birch said: "The decision to issue proceedings on behalf of the deputy leader was made by officers.

"Neither I nor any other member took part in the decision. There has been no misuse of power and I would expect the chief executive, as well as the borough solicitor and deputy chief executive, in their statutory roles of monitoring officer and chief finance officer, to prevent any such alleged abuse."