A COUNCILLOR has defended using his position on Cheshire West and Chester Council to back a promotional event by the company which employs him.

Cllr Deynem, who represents Tarvin and Kelsall, was quoted in a council press release supporting an energy efficiency roadshow by E.ON in his capacity as climate change champion.

However, the release did not mention that Cllr Deynem is employed by E.ON as its residential energy sales manager which is declared in the council’s register of interests.

Cllr Deynem has defended not making clear his employment position in the release about the event at Winsford.

He told The Chronicle: “I think that would have raised far more questions than it would have answered. This is not about generating sales for a business, it’s about giving energy efficiency advice to the residents of Cheshire West and Chester borough.”

Cllr Deynem said he was happy to work with any energy supplier in a bid to try and meet government climate change targets. CWaC works with British Gas at Blacon and ScottishPower at Ashton Hayes.

But the CWaC Watcher website, run by Trevor Nunn, said a free advice event was also an opportunity to make sales.

Mr Nunn wrote: “Most people, having been given something free, even if it’s only information widely available from other sources, feel obliged to at least listen to your sales pitch with many even buying your product.”

Cllr Deynem accused the CWAC Watcher website of being ‘politically motivated’ and said he took it with ‘a pinch of salt’.