Councillors slash expenses by £15,000
WEST Lothian's 32 councillors reduced their expenses claims by more than £15,000 on the previous year, whilst costing the taxpayer an annual bill of £710,869 for their services.
But while 15,471.02 was saved on expense claims over the past year, an extra 15,780.77 was needed to cover councillors' salary increases.
Action To save St John's councillor John Cochrane claimed the lowest amount of expenses with just 8.22 for phone bills, while SNP council leader Peter Johnston had the highest single claim of 7,059.02.
Cllr Johnston was also the most expensive councillor, costing 39,528.98 in 2009/10, however his claims spanned 21 months instead of just a year.
He said: "As council leader my workload is substantially heavier than other members and I am pleased to note that in total the council expenses are 15,000 less. More importantly there are no duck ponds or indeed invisible shelves being claimed for."
Labour councillor Tom Conn from the Linlithgow ward was the cheapest councillor at 16,284.70.
Executive councillor for the environment Robert de Bold racked up the third highest claim for mileage with 2,650.30. Cllr Johnston was the highest for mileage with 4,004.47 and Stuart Borrowman claimed for 3,245.67.
Salaries for all councillors came to 633,151.68, an increase of 15,780.77 on the previous year's annual wages.
The total expenses bill this year was 77,717.32 with almost half of that figure – 36,717.44 – claimed for mileage.
Another 34,317.69 was spent on "other" expenses, which includes conferences and salaries for other positions.
Cllr John Muir received 11,162 for his role as vice-convener of the Police Board; Ellen Glass got almost 3,500 for being vice-convener of the Fire Board; and Frank Anderson received 5,000 as an APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) payment.
Just 73.90 was claimed in total by all councillors in subsistence, which covers several things including meals and dinners.
A total of 6,608.29 was claimed for phone bills and internet expenses.
The average expenses claim for a West Lothian councillor last year was 2,429, the 15th highest out of the 32 Scottish local authorities.
WEST Lothian Council is urging local people and community groups to participate in its consultation on proposals to cut services to the tune of 45 million over the next four years before the 30 June deadline.
The proposals can be viewed at libraries, CIS centres, community centres and other public buildings or the council website www.westlothian.gov.uk/change
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Friday 18 May 2012
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