A FORMER Scottish rugby internationalist currently suspended as a councillor is facing an investigation into his expenses.
SNP member Alastair Cranston had a £6.45 mileage claim rejected for travelling from his home to sign a book of condolence for a council colleague who had passed away.
The 64-year-old has had nearly 50 expenses claims disallowed since being elected to Scottish Borders Council after attempting to get payment for attending meetings of Hawick Community Rugby Trust, Hawick Common Riding functions and meetings with South of Scotland MSP Paul Wheelhouse.
One claim that was deemed admissible was the 17-mile journey from his home near Lilliesleaf to Hawick to attend the funeral of Councillor Zandra Elliot in February.
Another that was successful was for mileage from his home to the council headquarters in Newtown St Boswells to hand in his expenses form.
That provoked an angry response from Conservative councillor Tom Weatherston who said he was "disgusted".
Councillor Stuart Bell, the SNP group leader on Scottish Borders Council, has now requested an internal investigation into Mr Cranston's expenses.
The probe, by the council's monitoring officer Brian Frater, will focus on all the claims he has submitted since his election to the Hawick and Denholm ward in 2012.
Councillor Bell said it was the responsibility of councillors as individuals to ensure all expenses claims were legitimate.
"I have asked the monitoring officer to investigate all aspects of Councillor Cranston's expenses.
"If Councillor Cranston needs help with, or clarification of, the proper procedure or if he is at fault, it is up to the monitoring officer to decide this and take appropriate action."
In October Cranston was suspended from the council for three months for breaching the councillors' code of conduct.
It followed a hearing by the Standards Commmission which found he had failed to declare a business interest during a renewable energy debate in December last year.
A graduate of Edinburgh University, he played rugby for Hawick before representing Scotland between 1976 and 1981.
Mr Cranston was yesterday unavailable for comment.
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