A COUNCIL leader has been criticised for spending thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on a flood survey near his home.

Neil Stock, Tory leader of Tendring Council and ward member for Ardleigh and Little Bromley, authorised the spending of £5,800 on a drainage investigation.

Colchester Council was commissioned to undertake the detailed investigation into drainage in Little Bromley, which suffers from flooding.

The survey covered 1km of road and ditches in Shop Road and focused on the area around two properties – including Mr Stock’s home, Wisteria Cottage.

The project was paid for through Tendring Council ’s small schemes budget.

The initiative, which was set up in 2009, but scrapped this year, gave each councillor £2,000 a year to fund a projects with community benefits in their ward.

Labour opposition councillor Ivan Henderson said: “Every other councillor has spent their small schemes allocation on groups, like local football teams, pensioners’ luncheons clubs or Christmas lights for town centres. Only Mr Stock has seen fit to save up three years’ money and spend it on flooding issues in and around his property.

“That is not what this money was meant for.”

Mr Stock said flooding was one of the main issues in Little Bromley and residents had asked for his help on the issue.

He said he had not asked for the investigation to include his house.