Burnham-On-Sea’s MP is reportedly facing police action over allegations that she falsely claimed a council tax discount while sharing her house with a DJ, according to a national press article today (Sunday, July 18th).
The Mail On Sunday reports that Tessa Munt is locked in a row with Sedgemoor District Council after staff accused her of pretending to be a ‘single occupant’ even though BBC broadcaster Andy Kershaw and a GP were living there.
The newspaper reports that an investigation discovered that Mr Kershaw was registered to vote at her house in Somerset at a time when he admitted he was ‘on the run’ from authorities on the Isle of Man over a broken restraining order.
Council tax rates are based on at least two adults living in a property, therefore if a person says they live alone, the bill is reduced by a quarter.
Mrs Munt, who won her seat at May’s General Election, insists that she has already explained herself to the council.
She tells the newspaper: “Andy is an old friend of mine who came over for a holiday.” She said she offered GP John Laband ‘a place to stay’ briefly as his wife was filing for divorce.
Sedgemoor District Council Leader Duncan McGinty told the Mail On Sunday: “The council will seek to ensure that all money due is paid – if necessary by informing the police.”
But council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com on Sunday morning: “Due to our obligations under the Data Protection Act, we cannot say anything about individual cases.”
