Councillors claim almost £1m expenses

Almost £1 million in expenses was claimed by Wolverhampton councillors during the last year, figures reveal today.

Politicians in the city claimed £996,000 from the public purse during 2007/08 - £26,000 up on the previous year.

Councillor Roger Lawrence, who was leader of the former Labour-controlled authority at the time, racked up a £1,332 bill in taxi, rail and food costs.

Members received a basic allowance of £8,740 during the year, and top-ups for extra responsibilities such as being the leader of the authority or taking up a cabinet position.

Councillor Lawrence, who was at the helm of the authority for six years until May, was the biggest earner, taking home a total of £34,961 plus allowances. The former leader was wheelchair-bound for several months last year because of an operation, and had to use a taxi to get from his St Peter’s ward to his office at the Civic Centre.

The second biggest earner was former cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Peter Bilson, picking up £30,822 last year including £231 on travel and food claims.

Overall, the city council is expected to break the £1 million barrier for allowances for the first time next year because of inflation.

Defending the allowances system, Councillor Lawrence said today: “If people understood the time and effort put in, they’d appreciate the allowances more. When I was leader I often did 60 or 70 hour weeks and I think what I got was reasonable in the circumstances. We get bashed over the head with this every year. Last year because of my injuries I had to use a taxi to get around, which is why my expenses are like that.

“I’d also like to point out that our allowances have been recommended by an independent panel.

“Why there isn’t a national system in place to take it completely away from us, I don’t know.”

Tory councillor Paddy Bradley, the current cabinet member for regeneration, said: “It’s damn hard work being a councillor - it really is a full-time job, especially when you are in control. There are some councillors who just want the fancy titles, but many others who work very hard and deserve what they get.”

The allowances are recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Nationally the row over expenses claimed by MPs is still rumbling on. A Tory bid to scrap the so-called “John Lewis list” to furnish second homes was defeated in the Commons this week.

MPs backed instead a Government move to abolish the list but reimburse “reasonable costs” up to £2,400. Shadow leader Theresa May said the change amounted only to replacing the John Lewis list with an “Ikea list”. Earlier this month, MPs faced an angry backlash after voting down attempts to scrap the £24,000 a year Additional Costs Allowance (ACA).