Cllr Roy WhileWILTSHIRE TIMES EXCLUSIVE: THE budget chief for west Wiltshire has been barred from a town pub for being too stingy with his cash.

Cllr Roy While, West Wiltshire District Council's portfolio cabinet member for finance and former chief executive, has been banned from the King's Arms pub in Melksham after he held a meeting for more than an hour without even buying a drink.

Licensee Peter Bull said Cllr While, who has the task of setting next year's district council budget, was the first person he had banned for not spending any money.

Fellow councillors said Cllr While's tight-fisted approach fitted well with his role in setting the budget, despite a raft of controversial policies planned to balance the books, including rising parking costs and a funding cut for tourist information centres.

Speaking about the ban Mr Bull, who runs the hotel in Market Place, said: "Two men joined a woman and got their notepads out.

"I noticed they were busy but they hadn't bought anything and they sat there all lunchtime.

"In the end it tested my patience so much that I went up and said 'my patience is exhausted because you haven't bought anything I want you to leave now and I don't want to see you again'."

Mr Bull said he had not recognised Cllr While, who is also treasurer of Trowbridge Town Football Club, but said: "I didn't have a clue who he was but if I knew he was a district councillor it wouldn't have made any difference at all.

"I try to be fair to everybody. The only other people I have banned have been for bad behaviour or swearing. He's the first person I have banned for being too stingy.

"You wouldn't expect them to behave like that. It's like going into my living room and holding a meeting."

Defending his actions Cllr While, who also serves on Melksham Without Parish Council, said: "I thought I was going to be in there for a couple of minutes but it turned out to be a little more."

Cllr Ernie Clark (Ind), a fellow portfolio holder, said: "I assume he is as prudent with the council's money, and if he is it's obviously in safe hands."

Cllr Bob Brice, Lib Dem group leader, said: "I think it's an excellent quality. It's what you're looking for in someone who's running the district council finances."

Cllr Vic Oakman (Lab) said: "Maybe this is how he plans to make his budget cuts.

Prospective parliamentary candidate Duncan Hames (Lib Dem) said: "I have a lot of sympathy for him. We end up standing outside in a car park holding constituency meetings, which is far from ideal."

Councillors are expected to pass this year's district council budget on Wednesday, which would see a council tax increase of 4.5 per cent.