Councillors’ salaries and expenses top £710,000
East Ayrshire Council members cost the taxpayer more than £710,000 in the last financial year in salaries, expenses and other expenditure, new figures show.
The local authority has released figures which show councillors’ gross salaries and expenses bill for 2020-21 stood at £704,932.09.
But the grand total comes to £712,151.47 when you take into account £7,219.38 which the local authority also shelled out through other expenditure.
Only eight elected members claimed car and van mileage expenses in 2020/21, totalling £3,684.15.
It should be remembered, however, that for much of last year, travel restrictions were in
place due to multiple lockdowns because of the COVID-19 outbreak - with the public advised to ‘Stay at Home’.
Jim Roberts, the cabinet member with responsibility for economy and infrastructure, claimed the highest car and van mileage expenses of £1,417.95 to add to his £26,000 per annum
salary. Meanwhile, council leader Douglas Reid’s phone/broadband bill came in at £1,830.10 - to add to his £35,677.46 annual salary.
Councillor Reid’s council vehicle claim came in at £191.51.
Councillors cost the local authority £6,798.66 in total for telephone/broadband services while elected members’ costs associated with council cars came in at £285.72.
The total comes to £7,219.38 with a £135 claim by Councillor Barry Douglas, chair of the governance and scrutiny committee, for attending an external conference/meeting.
A council spokesperson 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.
“When councillors use their own cars for council business they are also entitled to reasonable reimbursement for their out of pocket expenses, in accordance with the regulations.
“In addition, costs associated with travel to approved conferences may have been met by the council but require to be recorded as a cost to the relevant councillor.
“The council provides transportation for councillors carrying out approved duties. Transportation is also provided to the Provost and Depute Provost in respect of their civic ceremonial duties on behalf of the council.
“Costs for all such transportation, which include employee costs, are met directly by the council but require to be published as a cost against the relevant councillor.
“The element of a councillor’s telephone bill that relates directly to their duties as a councillor is also reimbursed.
“Again, this varies from councillor to councillor, depending on the amount of council business that they conduct by telephone.”
They’re entitled to reasonable reimbursement for their out of pocket expenses in accordance with regulations.”