BOTTLES of wine costing $105 each were among the offerings enjoyed by former Bexley Council leader Ian Clement as he enjoyed a sumptuous New York meal on his City Hall credit card.

The Greater London Authority(GLA) has revealed details of of the spending by Mr Clement, deputy mayor for government and external relations, following questions by London Assembly members today.

Now it has been revealed Mr Clement was also given a Bexley Council corporate credit card, during his 2006 to 2008 leadership Former council leader Councillor Chris Ball says it is "unheard of" among ex-Bexley leaders.

He told News Shopper: "I certainly never had one and I don't know of any other Bexley leader who had one."

He has now requested details of any spending on Mr Clement's card from the council's chief executive.

He has also asked who at the council authorised the issuing of the card to Mr Clement.

Cllr Ball added: "Unbelievably, on taking office, Ian Clement accused me of running a credit card council."

Mr Clement has been forced to return his GLA credit card, the only one issued, after it was revealed he had used it to pay for groceries, personal meals and £535 for repairs to his Jaguar car.

Mayor Boris Johnson said it had been "produced before me in four pieces."

Details of his spending shows Mr Clement used the card like a personal credit card, running up bills and then repaying the amounts, usually within a month.

Mr Clement is said to have told the Mayor it was the only card he had available at the time.

Mr Johnson told Assembly members: "Clearly there were discussions between Ian Clement and the finance department about these repayments, and he kept making them."

Liberal Democrat member Mike Tuffrey conceded Mr Clement had regularly repaid the amounts, but added: "It is a breach of the rules and it went on for eight or nine months without being detected.

"Why was it allowed to carry on?"

The New York meal, costing more than £700, was a formal dinner at the Gotham Bar and Grill for New York's deputy mayor Robert Leiberman, which also included the Tory leader of Kensington and Cheslea council, Merrick Cockell and was attended by six people.

Mr Clement also stayed at the upmarket Bryant Park Hotel in midtown Manhattan for four nights which cost £1,540, including £40-plus breakfasts.

The credit card bills included £2,400 for upgrades from economy to business class when flying with British Airways to Bejiing before and during last year's Olympics.

Mr Johnson is said to be "furious" that Mr Clement upgraded his seat after the Mayor had asked for restraint on spending and had travelled economy class to China himself.

Other expenses inluded dining out with Bexley councillors and other Tory politicians.

The £2,300 personal spending included bills from a number of trips to local supermarkets, such as Tesco in Sidcup where he spent £101 on May 10 and £229 on May 25, and Sainsbury's in Crayford on April 19 and April 24 when he charged £102 and £173.

There were also numerous meals including two at Le Pont de la Tour near Tower Bridge costing £125 and £105.

It is understood Mr Clement offered Mr Johnson his resignation, and has received a formal written warning from the Mayor.

During London Assembly Members' questions today, Mr Johnson said it had been his office which had discovered the misuse of the card and had taken action to deal with it.

He said he had felt "a deep sense of fury."

Mr Johnson said Mr Clement's actions has been "crass" and "inappropriate", but said there was "no evidence of real dishonesty."

He said although Mr Clement had used the card to buy personal items, he had regularly paid the money back.

Mr Johnson has offered London Assembly members the chance to question Mr Clement face-to-face about the issue.