DAVID ROBERTS

Councillor David Roberts, the deputy leader of the council's Labour group, was arrested for being "drunk and incapable" outside The Trouville Hotel, Bournemouth. He was staying there with council leader Maurice Burgess, deputy leader Philip Hickson and councillors Ann Jackman and Balbir Samra, to attend the Local Government Association annual conference.

Police were called and took Mr Roberts to a police station in Bournemouth, where he slept for the next few hours before being released without charge. Mr Roberts said that, although regrettable, the incident was the result of his wine glass being topped up too much at two earlier LGA drinks receptions.

Mr Roberts said, "I was arrested for being drunk. It's the penalty for trying to attend too many functions where they give too many free drinks away and I fell prey to not eating. It was stupid, I admit that. Lots of us have been stupid and I hope that I'm never stupid like that again." Councillor Chris Williamson said, "Here we have someone who perhaps had a couple of drinks too many and was perhaps unwell."

A spokesman for Dorset police said, "We had a report of a violent guest who was drunk and crashed out, threatening staff and upsetting other guests. A man was taken into custody for being drunk and incapable." Accommodation for the five councillors cost Derby taxpayers around £4,000 including expenses.

What disgraceful behaviour by Dave Roberts as he attended the Local Government Association's annual conference with Messrs Burgess, Hickson and co. What appalled me most of all was the overall cost to Derby taxpayers for the accommodation and expenses for these five city councillors.

How that can be justified I will never know and I ask myself - is it really necessary for five people to attend like this at the taxpayers' expense? Why are the expenses so high? According to Mr Roberts, there were "too many free drinks". So why are we running up such a high bill when people struggle to meet council tax demands throughout Derby? Andrew Broughton