Telford & Wrekin councillors allowances published

The figures show that this year councillors received almost £643,000 in total in allowances – flat rate payments made to councillors for the roles they perform.

Overall the payments to councillors and co-optees in 2010/11 fell by 1.8 per cent compared with the previous year.

All councillors receive a basic allowance of £7,870 and some councillors receive further allowance payments for special responsibilities such as performing a cabinet or scrutiny role or that of another post such as the Mayor.

Payments to councillors are expected to fall further this year as the Council’s cabinet have said that they will reduce their special responsibilities allowance by 10 per cent.

In addition to allowances, councillors last year claimed £12,409 in expenses. The figures also show that 21 co-optees who support the work of the council received a total of £8,379 in allowances.

Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: “It’s very important that the public understand what councillors do for them and that we are totally clear and transparent about the remuneration that they receive for this work.

“Becoming a co-operative council means building the trust of the communities councillors serve and is vital to ensuring that residents and other groups get involved in and understand the Council’s work. A starting point for this must be openness and honesty about what councillors receive.

“We look forward to the level of councillors expenses falling further next year as I and my cabinet colleagues have opted to take a 10 per cent cut in our special responsibility allowances, which will save almost another £23,000 a year and I hope all group leaders will follow our lead.

"In addition, our new scrutiny arrangements with fewer chairmen will save a further £14,000 a year – putting at least £37,000 back into key services for the people of the borough.”

The payments are published annually in the local press and on the council’s www.telford.gov.uk/opencouncil web pages.