THE results of an internal investigation into the use of a Bexley Council credit card by former council leader Ian Clement, are to be made public.

Bexley Council leader, Councillor Teresa O’Neill told last week’s council meeting the findings would go to a meeting of the council’s audit committee next month.

She promised the meeting would held in public, with all the committee papers available for scrutiny.

The Tory group came under pressure from Labour councillors and their supporters at the meeting.

Labour group leader Councillor Chris Ball described it as “an unprecedented discussion”.

He said some junior council officers had been put in an impossible position in having to process Mr Clement’s claims.

He also expressed sympathy for Mr Clement’s family.

The Labour group called for a new investigatory committee to be set up and to include three non-council members as well as the leaders and deputy leaders of the two political parties.

It would investigate Mr Clement’s use of the card and report back with recommendations, to the next council meeting.

But the Tories defeated the proposal saying the existing audit committee, chaired by Tory councillor Len Newton, who was council leader for 20 years, could do the job.

There were several angry cries from the public that the police should be called in.

Mr Clement’s use of his Greater London Authority (GLA) card is already the subject of a police investigation and Mr Clement was forced to resign last month as a deputy to London Mayor Boris Johnson.

But the Tory group said calling in police at this stage would only pre-judge the situation.

Cllr O’Neill accused Labour of trying to make political capital from the situation and said those Tory councillors who had lunched with Mr Clement had not been aware he had paid with his GLA credit card.

Labour councillor Daniel Francis said he feared political extremists would take advantage of the situation if the council was not seen to be open about dealing with it.

He asked for a detailed breakdown of Mr Clement’s travel claims, and agreed the police should be brought in, if necessary.

Both Tory and Labour councillors spoke of their disgust at Mr Clement’s behaviour.

Meanwhile Mike Tuffrey, leader of the London Assembly’s Liberal Democrat claimed Mr Johnson’s statement that he knew nothing about the misuse of Mr Clement’s GLA card did not add up.

Mr Tuffrey pointed out at last week’s Mayor’s questions that Mr Johnson had signed expenses claims from Mr Clement which identified a list of disallowed items.

Mr Tuffrey claimed Mr Johnson had also approved claims by Mr Clement which contravened GLA rules.