Former Leicestershire CC leader, Cllr David Parsons, faces a fourth major investigation linked to his expenses, following fresh concerns over an estimated £18,000 of European Union-related claims, The MJ has learned.

According to documents issued ahead of Leicestershire's corporate governance committee meeting on 24 September, Cllr Parsons received flat rate travel and meeting allowances for 39 EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) meetings held between January 2006 and October 2011. Council papers reveal that Cllr Parsons, who was often transported to and from his point of departure to Europe at Leicestershire's expense, received the ‘double benefit' of EU travel allowances and free transport in the UK.