ACCUSATIONS of "improper behaviour" have been levelled at councillors and officers who travelled to South Africa.

Concerns over the trip were raised at last week's meeting of the full council but Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock hit back at the criticism.

The trip to Ekurhuleni in South Africa was arranged as part of a friendship link formed after officials from the town visited Lewisham in December 2002.

Councillor Mark Morris, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, tabled a formal question asking for a detailed itinerary of the nine day trip and a breakdown of how the £16,520 costs were spent.

Seven officers and councillors, including deputy mayor Councillor Gavin Moore and Councillor Pauline Morrison, went on the trip.

Cllr Morris questioned the purchases of the six business class and one economy class tickets, which cost a total of £12,300.

At the January 26 meeting, he also asked why a full itinerary for the trip had not been provided.

He said: "The noble goals of this visit are not an excuse for improper behaviour.

"This was clearly the case here."

Steve Bullock said: "I do not agree. The information given in the written answer is a full and frank explanation of what was involved.

"It indicates the ways in which procedures could be improved."

He added: "This is very different from improper behaviour."

The October 2004 visit was arranged following a request from the Mayor of Ekurhuleni.

The visit was aiming to help in improve the Ekurhuleni council's organisation and economic development.

Formal meetings, workshops and civic events were part of the trip, which was described as being of "significant value" to the African council.

In the written answer to Cllr Morris' question, it was admitted there was no formal criteria for buying business class tickets.

It also admitted no overall approval had been given for the group to travel to Ekurhuleni.