Council expenses bill gets cheaper

EXPENSES claimed by city councillors have plummeted by more than a third following the election of the new administration last May.

The annual table reveals local politicians claimed £57,230 for travel, food and other expenses.

But the figures for individual councillors varied widely, ranging from £3554 for Lord Provost George Grubb to zero for Tory councillor Allan Jackson and the SNP's Colin Keir. Councillors' salaries were also revealed, which show leader Jenny Dawe is earning over £42,000-a-year – around £13,000 more than her predecessor Ewan Aitken.

The majority of expenses relate to travel, including taxi fares – which have dropped following a series of Evening News investigations.

Labour's Sighthill and Gorgie councillor Donald Wilson claimed the second highest expenses, followed by former Labour councillor Billy Fitzpatrick who, after failing to win re-election, received £1208 for "subsistence" costs dating back several months.

Lib Dem leader Councilllor Dawe said today: "It is important that councillors demonstrate the highest standards of financial probity and secure maximum value for taxpayers' money.

"I am pleased to note that the level of expenses claimed has reduced considerably over the last year."

Overall, councillors' expenses have been decreasing over the last few years, with a total of £88,585 claimed in 2006-7.

Then-Lord Provost Lesley Hinds topped the league table with nearly £9000, after a series of trips overseas.

A spokesman for the current Lord Provost said: "George Grubb's travel expenses are fairly low for a Lord Provost. He and his office have kept costs down and limited visits abroad."

Councillor Donald Wilson said he was "surprised" to have the second highest expenses at £2528, but said this accounted for a trip to Cannes before the election.

"It was a conference about becoming a wireless (internet] city, a route we were going down," he said. "It was worthwhile."

Billy Fitzpatrick, who represented the Pilton ward for 23 years, said: "I was a Baillie and had to attend a lot of receptions. I didn't get any redundancy money after the election and I back-dated my expenses."

Economic development leader, SNP councillor Tom Buchanan, claimed the second highest travel expenses, including a number of taxi trips and visits to Cannes and Dublin. "I was on council business and I never claim any meals when I'm away," he said.

According to the figures, Labour's Eric Barry received £1333 for travel – the third highest – but he disputed the figures.

"I only had a handful of taxi journeys, and I also attended a fire board conference in Aviemore, but I've only received around £700 so there's clearly something wrong with the figures," he said.

Councillors can now only claim for food when they are away from the Chambers, meaning most subsistence expenses were claimed by former politicians.

Tory Alastair Paisley had the joint fourth highest total, alongside deputy leader Steve Cardownie.

Councillors' salaries start at £14,101 – and a number of Labour politicians have suffered huge drops since the election.