It is only a few minutes walk from County Hall but after a lunch at Prezzo restaurant in Maidstone, former chief executive Peter Gilroy booked a taxi to take him back to the office.

According to KCC, however, the £4.50 fare was necessary as Mr Gilroy was at the time recovering from a significant operation and could neither walk nor drive.

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The lunch in March had been with representatives of Edinburgh social services.

In August we reported how Mr Gilroy, who earned £240,000 a year, was among a small party who dined at the exclusive Covent Garden restaurant of Rules, running up a £357 bill picked up by the taxpayer.