THE revelation that Lord Hanningfield spent a quarter of a million pounds on an Essex County Council credit card has been likened to the Jimmy Savile sex-abuse scandal by one councillor.
Last month, it emerged that the former leader racked up £287,000 on his corporate credit card in just five years, including spending on trips abroad and Michelin-starred restaurants.
At a full council meeting, Cllr Graham Butland implied that his colleagues turned a blind eye to Lord Hanningfield's spending during his time at County Hall, which included £136,000 on overseas travel.
"This was corporate failure on a massive scale," said Cllr Butland, the leader of Braintree District Council, who recently repaid £71 for a lunch he took with Lord Hanningfield in 2006.
"Did they [colleagues] look the other way? Did they walk on the other side of the road? This is this council's Savile."
Nevertheless, the Conservative-dominated council voted down a Liberal Democrat motion for an investigation into why senior officials and senior council members did not take action to limit Lord Hanningfield's credit card spending.
"Why was it that expenses payments were authorised and then paid?" asked Cllr Mike Mackrory, leader of the Liberal Democrats, proposing the motion.
"The fact was that it was the talk of County Hall staff.
"These highly dubious claims were going through without challenge and being signed off by senior staff.
"How was it that Lord Hanningfield was able to spend £287,000 over five years in restaurants, hotels, bar bills and travel across the world, visiting 24 countries, without any serious challenge from senior members of the council?
"It's just not credible for senior members of the administration to say they were not aware of what was going on."
He also questioned why Essex taxpayers paid for Lord Hanningfield's bar bills at the Houses of Parliament.
Between 2005 and 2010, Lord Hanningfield used his corporate credit card more than 1,000 times and spent nearly £80,000 on 400 meals out, including £467.66 at a Gordon Ramsay restaurant.
Of these, 65 per cent were between the peer and council staff and members.
But council leader Peter Martin, who took over from Lord Hanningfield in February 2010, said his council had been transparent and assured taxpayers the council would take steps to retrieve falsely claimed expenses.
"As promised we've published full details, tightened our systems and we are committed to pursuing recovery of any inappropriate expenses from Lord Hanningfield," said Cllr Martin.
Earlier in the meeting, Cllr Martin apologised for Lord Hanningfield's era of profligacy at County Hall and said that all parties at Essex County Council should share the blame.
He said: "I apologise to the residents of Essex over what took place but I think the Labour and Liberal Democrat party should share in that apology."
At an audit committee meeting on Monday, former chairman of the council Cllr Rodney Bass denied there was a cover-up at County Hall.
"The council is a very different organisation today from what it was, say five or six years ago," said Cllr Bass.
"But there was never, in my view, any overwhelming institutional conspiracy or failings.
"It was more a question of a dictatorial leadership culture. It is extremely difficult for any organisation or individual within it to challenge inappropriate behaviour and actions.
"It's difficult for councillors to challenge one of their own and it's difficult for officers when the leader becomes so strong."