Taxpayers paid for two leading Telford & Wrekin councillors to reschedule a private flight to Scandinavia so they did not miss a vital meeting in the county, it was revealed today.

An investigation is now under way into who at Telford & Wrekin Council gave the go-ahead for the air fares for non-council work to come out of public coffers.

Liberal Democrat group leader Bill Tomlinson and his wife Karen were able to make the annual meeting of the council where control of the authority was decided. Shortly after, the couple jetted out on the re-arranged flight.

Mr and Mrs Tomlinson were originally booked to fly out before the council’s annual meeting on May 24, 2007, on a flight paid for by Mr Tomlinson’s employers.

The flight was rescheduled for after the meeting and so the two Liberal Democrat councillors were able to turn up. They voted for Labour to retain overall control of the council but, due to co-operation from councillors of the Telford& Wrekin People’s Association (Tawpa), the Tories seized control by one vote.

The Tomlinsons are understood to have been quizzed by the authority about the flights and the investigation is now looking into who authorised the payment from council coffers.

The matter came to light following a query from Tawpa member David Barnett and Tawpa councillor Adrian Williams about members’ allowances.

Council chief executive Victor Brownlees said in an e-mail to Mr Barnett, leaked to the Shropshire Star: “The payment was to reimburse them for the cost in delaying and rescheduling flights that they had booked for non-council business so that they could attend the council AGM on May 24, 2007.

“We are investigating currently to establish who authorised the claim.”

Councillor Bill Tomlinson, speaking on behalf of his wife as well, said today: “We are aware of the situation and we are in discussions with the council.”

Council spokesman Nigel Newman said of the inquiry: “No conclusion has yet been reached.”

Exclusive By Simon Hardy