MORE than a million pounds in allowances and expenses was paid out to Cheshire West and Chester councillors last year.

Each councillor received an annual basic allowance of £12,494 in 2020-21, but special responsibility allowances (SRA) were paid to members who held additional roles.

Such roles can include the leader and deputy leader of the council or a political group, executive members, chair of the council, committees and sub committees as well as political group whips.

The total figure received by the council’s 70 elected members was £1,064,519 for the financial year April to March, of which £855,427 was basic allowances paid to all members, while a combined £206,603 in SRA was paid to 27 councillors.

The highest overall amount was paid to council leader Louise Gittins (Labour – Little Neston), who received a total of £40,677. This was made up of a smaller basic allowance of £11,457 and an SRA of £29,220.

Second highest was council deputy leader Karen Shore (Labour - Central and Grange) who received a total of £27,105, made up of a basic £12,494 and SRA of £14,611.

Robert Cernik (Labour - Northwich Winnington and Castle), Richard Beacham (Labour - Newton and Hoole), Val Armstrong (Labour – Lache), Paul Donovan (Labour - Sutton Villages) and Carol Gahan (Labour – Blacon) all received £12,857 SRAs for cabinet positions.

Leader of the council’s Conservative group Margaret Parker (Gowy Rural) received £21,360, which included an SRA of £8,766, and the Conservative group’s deputy leader Lynn Gibbon (Marbury) picked up £18,338, which included SRA of £5,844.

In addition to allowances, councillors are also entitled to claim back expenses for subsistence, travel and accommodation which relates to council business. The total figure for last year was £2,488 - a significant drop on the year before of £24,693 when the pandemic was starting to take hold.

UK law provides for certain allowances and expenses to be paid to councillors. What is paid and the amount payable is decided by each council based on the recommendations of an Independent Member Remuneration Panel, which is made up of local residents.