Office linked to DUP no longer rates-free

Politics

Investigations Correspondent David Gordon examines the latest twists in ongoing controversies involving politicians' tax-payer funded offices

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

By David Gordon

An office used by the DUP for a north Antrim advice centre has been stripped of its rates exempt status, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal today.

And the bill for the premises at Main Street, Bushmills has been backdated by a year.

The property is occupied by a community advice centre organisation and is also the location of a part-time constituency office run by DUP MLA Ian Paisley Jnr.

It was granted exemption from rates for some 10 years on the basis that it was a cross-community, charitable venture.

That decision has been upheld by the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP). However, officials have now concluded that its rates-free status is " no longer appropriate".

The review was carried out by the District Valuer of the Department's Land and Property Services wing.

It was conducted after this newspaper had revealed details of the case in March this year.

A DFP spokesman said: "Based on the latest information available and considering that the property is still occupied by the Bushmills Community Group, the District Valuer has concluded that while the original decision to grant exemption was correct, exemption is now no longer appropriate.

"Therefore, the District Valuer issued a Certificate of Revision on May 9, 2008, removing rates exempt status from the occupiers of the property. The effect of this decision has been backdated to April 1, 2007."

The 1998 application for exemption was made by a body called Bushmills Community Advice Centre.

Moyle DUP councillor Davy McAllister has been involved with this organisation from that period. He is also a member of Mr Paisley Jnr's Assembly-funded staff.

Mr McAllister yesterday said the advice centre was likely to re-apply for exemption.

"Our committee is not just up to date so we are reforming our committee. We are getting our stuff all put together and we will more than likely reapply," he said.

A Freedom of Information disclosure issued earlier this year stated that £2,100 is being claimed in rental expenses annually from the Assembly by the DUP for the Bushmills address.

Mr McAllister has stated that the community advice centre is a voluntary operation, and that Mr Paisley Jnr's part-time advice centre is based in a back-room.

"If I'm sitting in the front office, I'm sitting in a voluntary capacity. "If I sit in the back office, I'm sitting working for him," he recently said.

Mr McAllister was convicted in 2006 for fraudulently claiming some £17,000 in benefit while working.

He continues to maintain his innocence and argues that he was unfairly penalised over remuneration received as a councillor.