INVESTIGATIONS into a senior Ryedale councillor could cost council tax payers up to £45,000, it has been claimed.
Conservative leader Keith Knaggs, who chairs Ryedale District Council's policy and resources committee, was censured last month after comments he made to a senior council officer were deemed "inappropriate".
But the cost of an investigation and a legal bill may cost up to £45,000 - all of which will be met by council tax payers.
Some members of the council are incensed and will be raising the matter at the next full council meeting on November 1.
The figure was revealed to councillors in a closed session from which the press and public were excluded at last week's policy and resources committee meeting.
One councillor, who asked not to be named, said: "This is disgraceful - this is an enormous amount of money.
"As far as I know the legal bills were around £4,000 so I don't know where the rest of the money went."
Coun Knaggs could not be contacted today.
Updated: 11:01 Wednesday, October 24, 2001
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