Councillor charged over benefit fiddle claims
A Labour councillor has been suspended after being charged with two counts of fiddling his benefits.
Ian Hollinshead, a member of Staffordshire County Council and Stafford Borough Council, is accused of failing to declare changes in his employment which would affect his entitlement to housing and council tax benefit between April 2011 and March 2014.
The prosecution is being brought by Stafford Borough Council, and he will appear at Stafford Magistrates Court on July 30.
He remains a councillor for Stafford North on the county council and Littleworth ward on the borough council but has been suspended by the Labour Party.
Regional Labour Party spokesman Richard Costello said: "We take these matters seriously, and Councillor Hollinshead has been administratively suspended until the conclusion of this court case."
A Staffordshire County Council spokesman said: "We have not received any formal notification on this matter so are unable to comment further at this time."
When approached for comment, Hollinshead said: "I don't think it is appropriate to comment at this time."
He represents Stafford North on the county council and Littleworth ward on the borough council.
