A COUNCILLOR will face no further action after police were called in to investigate when he voted on a budget despite allegedly failing to settle a council tax bill.

On February 4, Maldon District Council’s full council discussed its budget, which included increases to parking charges in the town centre and this year’s council tax precept.

Under Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, any councillor who owes at least two months of council tax is precluded from voting on any matters affecting the level of council tax.

Maldon councillor Stephen Savage declared he was subject to the act following a nine-year legal battle with the Department for Works and Pensions and the council over alleged benefit fraud.

But he then went on to vote in the budget against car parking charge increases.

In May Essex Police confirmed it was investigating after a referral from Maldon District Council.

In 2007 Mr Savage was alleged to have been overpaid job seekers’ allowance and taken to court.

He was cleared of benefit fraud in court and an attempt to appeal it by the government was thrown out by Judge Wikeley.

The case affected his council tax payments, and in 2013 Mr Savage was found liable to pay back almost £1,942.92 at Chelmsford Magistrates Court after it was alleged he had failed to pay council tax.

Now, six months after the police referral was made, Mr Savage has been told no further action will be taken.

“I have had a letter back from the Serious Crime Directorate saying they are not going to pursue this,” he said. “Obviously I am delighted.”

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed the Crown Prosecution Service had decided to take no further action.