A DISGRACED former councillor forced to resign over unpaid council tax has been giving tax tips to business leaders in Christchurch.

Andy Barfield was one of two speakers who asked: “Are you paying more tax than you have to?” at a breakfast seminar run by Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

The ex-Conservative councillor for Mudeford and Friars Cliff on Christchurch Council quit after the Daily Echo revealed he misled council colleagues and the press about a £3,000 unpaid council tax bill - to his own authority.

He tried to blame a tenant in a rental property for the debt but it came to light that the money was owed on his £600,000 seafront home in Mudeford.

Mr Barfield quit as Christchurch Council’s portfolio holder for effective council two days after the Echo submitted a Freedom of Information request on the issue in December. Shortly afterwards he quit the council altogether citing business pressures.

But he was invited to address business leaders at a breakfast seminar held at Highcliffe Castle Golf Club on Tuesday February 7.

Mr Barfield, an accountant and founder of Gervis Accountants, appeared with Chartered Financial Planner Justin King from MFP Wealth Management to share their 50 top tax saving tips.

Chamber members paid £11.50 and others £14.50 for the seminar which was advertised as: “Are you paying more tax than you have to? Then this seminar could help you reduce your overall tax bill.”

President of the Chamber, Stephen Bowden, said he did not wish to comment on Mr Barfield’s invitation to speak to members and guests and added: “As the President of the Christchurch Chamber I am about supporting business in Christchurch and I do not feel that such an article would do that.”

One councillor criticised the decision to invite Mr Barfield to be a speaker and said: “You couldn’t make it up. It is unbelievable that somebody who was taken to court for not paying their council tax, while being an elected councillor, could be a credible figure to give advice on tax affairs.”