A MALVERN town councillor's request to claim expenses for a study trip to Holland has been turned down.

Coun Richard Manning visited Holland earlier this year to look at the Dutch traffic and pedestrian/cycle priority arrangements and has since briefed the town council on the trip.

Before he went, the town council declined to contribute to expenses. But confusion appears to have arisen over whether he was representing the authority or not.

At last week's management committee meeting, Coun Manning asked for a £315 contribution towards the cost of the trip, saying the exper- tise gathered had been, and would be, of use to the authority.

He was then asked to leave the room while fellow councillors discussed the request.

Town clerk Stuart McDonough said Coun Manning had acted in good faith but the legal question councillors had to address was whether his visit was an "approved duty".

Councillors decided it was not and reiterated the earlier decision not to contribute to the cost.