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Russell Steele 1627 - 1627 • Published 9 Jun 2009 14:00
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THE total salary and expenses bill for Inverclyde"s 20 councillors in the past year has been revealed.
Inverclyde Council has just published the elected members" record of claims for 2008-09, in line with statutory rules governing allowances and expenses.
The figures show our councillors cost the taxpayer a total of £362,558 last year.
Between them, councillors claimed for £15,428 in expenses over the 12 months.
That was made up largely of the cost of covering travel, with almost £13,000 clocked up in mileage claims. Reimbursed phone bills, at just under £2,000, were the next largest sum.
Top of the league table for expenses was Conservative Councillor David Wilson, who claimed back an overall tally of £3,554.
Mr Wilson represents Inverclyde on a number of bodies which hold frequent meetings outwith the area, such as the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
A quarter of the councillors did not claim a single penny in expenses over the year.
The frugal five were Labour"s Jim Clocherty and Joe McIlwee, Lib Dem pair Tom Fyfe and Ciano Rebecchi, and Provost Michael McCormick.
Current salaries range between £15,838 for those on the basic councillor designation, up to £17,819 for those on "senior" status, while Provost McCormick receives £19,799 as civic head and council leader Stephen McCabe is paid £26,398.
The combined salary total comes in at just over £347,000. The figures also confirm councillors did not make any foreign trips.
The council said overseas spending in 2008-09 had been limited to a handful of occasions when officials had to go abroad.
A spokesman said: 'The council has a clear policy on expenses for elected members. There were no occasions during 2008/09 where elected members were required to travel abroad.
'There were a small number of occasions where education staff were required to travel, including to Malawi as part of our links with schools there.
'Also the choir was chosen to take part in the World Choir Games in Austria last summer.'
A full breakdown of the record of claims can be read on the council"s website at www.inverclyde.gov.uk
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 09 Jun 09
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