SNP have costliest councillors

The cost of councillors in East Ayrshire for the past year has been published.

And analysis shows little variation in expenses.

They banked a total of £673,011 and 43 pence. That includes just over £15,000 of expense claims.

The figures are for a total of 44 councillors rather than the usual complement of 32.

That’s because they include new entrants and those who left at the election last May.

Leader Douglas Reid has cost taxpayers £33,539.49 and is the costliest councillor.

His depute and SNP colleague Elena Whitham is the second highest, trousering £26,266.74.

The trio of senior councillors next in line all claimed not a penny in expenses.

In third place is Provost Jim Todd on £25,013.47, then Tory Tom Cook who was paid £24,423.69.

Fifth costliest councillor is the SNP’s Iain Linton on £24,364.30.

Only two members claimed more than £2000 in mileage.

They are Labour’s Neil McGhee on £2051.10 and planning and cabinet member Jim Roberts (SNP) on £2781.90.

A council spokeswoman said: “The expenses incurred by each Councillor vary depending on a number of factors including the distance that they live from Council Headquarters, the area covered by their ward and attendance at meetings of external bodies.”

Former Councillor Bobby McDill was the only one to claim from column G (‘other allowances’) .

It is not known what the £1.30 was for.