City counillor reported for allegedly overspending on election campaign

A REFORM UK councillor has been reported to police for potentially breaching election campaign spending limits.

- by BRADLEY GERRARD Local Democracy Reporter

Councillor Neil Stevens, who won the Alphington and Cowick seat in May’s Devon County Council elections by just 72 votes, has been reported by a fellow Reform UK councillor for the alleged overspend, and for a suspected false election expenses return submission.

Cllr Ed Hill, chairman of the Exeter branch of Reform UK, has also informed legal staff at the council.

Documents seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service show Cllr Neil Stevens’ election campaign spending limit was £1,827.04. However, documents show he spent £1,995.72, an overspend of £168.68.

Cllr Neil Stevens said he believed the spending limit only related to the money he had personally contributed to his campaign - £1,703.60 - and not to donations of £292.12 he received, meaning he believed he was below the spending limit.

He added the returns were completed with “the support of my election agent and reviewed before submission”.

“Had there been any issue, the returning officer, electoral services or party leadership at county level would have been notified - and none have raised concerns,” he said.

Cllr Hill was previously Cllr Neil Stevens’ election agent. However, Robert Edwin Sheridan Jr is named as the agent on the expenses submission forms.

Cllr Hill said he warned Cllr Neil Stevens prior to the recording of a podcast that he was getting close to his spending limit.