A Burntwood councillor who was awarded funding for a tree planting project that never went ahead has paid just half of the money back so far.

Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd
Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd

Staffordshire County Council confirmed that Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd was expected to have repaid the full amount next month.

The independent representative for Burntwood North was awarded £924 for the project in the run up to his election.

But he quit the Conservatives after being suspended when it emerged he had neither bought or planted the trees – and had failed to hand the money back.

Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd has refused to answer questions on when he had not returned the full sum to the public purse or why he was not in a position to return it as soon as the project failed to materialise.

But Staffordshire County Council has confirmed that half of the sum owing has now been handed back, with the remaining balance expected next month.

The councillor resigned roles at Hammerwich Parish Council and Burntwood Town Council in the wake of the controversy, but has hung on to his remunerated county position.

However, he has come under fire from his former Conservative colleagues, with Cllr Richard Cox claiming Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd has “no integrity or principles whatsoever”.

Despite refusing to answer questions from Lichfield Live about the whereabouts of the money throughout the controversy, the Burntwood North representative previously said he would “face the music” for what had happened.

“I am deeply embarrassed and apologetic about the manner in which this has taken place.

“I will not be running away like a sheep as some people seem to want. That’s not the kind of person I am.

“No, I’ll face the music for what has happened because I didn’t put myself forward for public office to run away in self-interest.

“I don’t deny that the road ahead will be embarrassing, humiliating and potentially destructive of my character – which is something I’ll have to learn to live with – but I’ve decided the right thing to do is to face the music, whatever the cost.”

Cllr Thomas Loughbrough-Rudd, Staffordshire County Council

Last month saw the county council report the funding to Staffordshire Police after an internal investigation was completed.

How the story unfolded…

A Conservative spokesperson confirmed to Lichfield Live on 18th November that Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd had been suspended from the county council group amid concerns over the money allocated to him in the run-up to his election.

Records obtained via a Freedom of Information request subsequently showed that Cllr Lougbrough-Rudd’s Nature Nuturing Community Interest Company – although on the county council’s paperwork it is spelt as Nature Nurture – was awarded £924 under the scheme via former Conservative councillor Helen Fisher, who has since gone on to become Staffordshire Deputy Commissioner.

No date on when the application was made or money was handed over was included in a spreadsheet of information relating to the fund:

Screenshot of Climate Change listing

The details of who was awarded what was not made publicly available on the county council website, with the Freedom of Information request used to access details over where the funding went.

It showed that a total of £76,074.60 was handed out to 121 organisations across Staffordshire.

Among the recipients was Nature Nuturing Community Interest Company, which lists Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd as a sole director. Records show it was incorporated on 27th July 2020.

But Companies House records revealed that despite setting up the company, Cllr Loughbrough-Rudd did not submit the required confirmation statement within the first 12 months as necessary and the business was subsequently dissolved.

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Clare Charles
2 years ago

The farce continues. Still loads of questions to be answered, not just from this councillor but from his former colleagues in the local Conservative party and from the county council itself. How can we have confidence in such grants in the future when in effect it looks like they are given to councillors as interest free loans with an unlimited timescale to pay it back?

TJay
2 years ago

So, if this was a company, he has effectively stolen from his employer. This is breach of trust and usually means immediate termination of contract for gross misconduct. How is he still in a “remunerated county position”? This smells of a cover up, how much more funding disappears? Or to quote Father Ted “Dougal, the money was just resting in my account!”

Scott Armstrong
2 years ago

You do have to wonder how many people are still helping this councillor to get away with blatant misuse of public money.

It was bad enough that this grant was approved in the first place by Helen Fisher when she was still a county councillor and rubber stamped by Staffordshire officials. They all should have known better.

But the failure to check on progress of a scheme that hindsight suggests was never actually going to go ahead, the failure to secure immediate repayment and now the failure to take police action against this councillor is a disgrace.

This man seems totally incapable of holding an office like councillor, at Burntwood TC let alone Staffordshire CC, yet he was encouraged and given so many opportunities by his former colleagues in the local Conservative party. The fact that this has not been resolved quickly and with police involvement shows the problems of a Tory dominated local political system. They are still covering up the lies and incompetence of all those involved, including the councillor himself despite him quitting the party.

It begs the question does Cllr Loughbrough Rudd know where all the skeletons are hiding? Is that why his former Conservative colleagues are still working so hard to help him?

Moderate Missus
2 years ago

He’s a coward. Have you seen Cllr TLR’s attendance record for County Council since this story came out in November? He’s missed the last 4 meetings and only sent apologies once. Hardly someone who is doing the right thing.

He said he wanted this resolved so his partner and family didn’t have to endure distress and upset anymore. The only person prolonging that is him. He is the cause of their upset. He blames everyone else for his failings.

If you only could see what he says on his private Facebook these months. The only people he’s hiding from are people asking difficult questions and people he’s a County Councillor for.

Feb 2020 “I will reach out and listen to all who wish to have a say in their local area…. to see how we can make sure Burntwood North develops to be a truly excellent place to live and work.”

December 2021 “I’ll face the music for what has happened because I didn’t put myself forward for public office to run away in self-interest”

Since then silence.

There’s so much about Cllr TLR that hasn’t been told yet. He did run away. Where is his big talk now?

Dr Teeth
2 years ago

Seems like the poor bloke is struggling to repay this tree money so maybe we could all have a whip around for Mr Ruddbrough Lough or whatever his name is to cover the balance.

Alica Fibmerchant
2 years ago

Money really does grow on trees.