Expenses shock as politicians' claims go down

In stark contrast to the claims at Westminster, the annual table reveals local politicians claimed 49,958 for travel, food and other expenses in 2008-9 – nearly half the total of three years ago.

Click here to download the table of expenses

The fall in expenses has been credited to a greater diligence by councillors when deciding on what to claim, though senior politicians have also admitted a series of Evening News investigations in recent years into taxi fares – which saw the 14,000-a-year bill drop by a third – has also made councillors more wary about making rogue claims.

And today's figures also show the amount claimed varies widely, ranging from 2,765 for the city's Lib Dem transport leader Phil Wheeler to zero for Labour's Liberton and Gilmerton councillor Norma Hart.

Cllr Wheeler, who will officially take over as finance leader later this week, did not return calls from the Evening News to explain his expenses, though it is thought he has attended a number of conferences over the last year.

The city's economic development leader, Tom Buchanan, claimed the second highest expenses, and the highest subsistence expenses, but he today said it was part of his role of selling Edinburgh to inward investors.

He said: "I know myself and my colleagues do our best to keep these costs down but I have been on a number of trips, including ones overseas, in the capacity of selling this city to inward investors and I need to be contactable throughout this."

In 2007-8 Edinburgh councillors claimed 57,230 for travel, food, mobile calls and other expenses.

The majority of expenses went on travel costs as councillors are allowed to claim for travel to and from home when on official business.

Including salaries and expenses, the city's councillors cost about 1.2 million every year.

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie, who claimed 2,455 in 2008-9, including a trip to Contalmaison in France for a war memorial ceremony, said: "I have no qualms about the expenses I've claimed.

"I think overall we give good value – there is certainly nobody who gets into local government for the salaries or expenses.

"I think councillors know they need to get the most value for the taxpayers and our claims are very well scrutinised by the officials.

"There is room for improvement though, items like conference fees can skew people's expense figures and I think opening up to full transparency will address this."

Latest salary details also reveal that city leader Jenny Dawe took home an income of 47,516 last year. This is up 5,000 from the previous year but the 2007-8 figures included one month's salary where she was not in charge of the council, as the elections were held in May 2007.

Alistair Paisley made the highest claim for travel, at 961 for the year, as well as the highest phone and IT claims at 412, but the Tory councillor said it was justified, given the size of his ward and committee commitments.

He said: "I am never away from this place and this is reflected in my expenses claims."

One of the most frugal councillors was Lib Dem Portobello councillor Stephen Hawkins. He only claimed 131, which was for subsistence costs while on a training course.

He explained: "It's probably one of those things as I work in Livingston but live in Portobello so the City Chambers is on my way to and from work. My employer provides me with a car so I don't feel the need to make a claim.

"Plus as one of the backbenchers there really isn't any need for me to claim much else."

The latest expenses details come as councillors are expected this week to approve moves to publish a breakdown of their claims for the first time.

The system will be similar to that used by the Scottish Parliament. Details will be published quarterly on the council website.

Councillor Cameron Rose, who has put a motion to Thursday's full council meeting calling for changes to the expenses system, and who himself claimed just 240 last year, said: "I think the expenses paid out are quite reasonable at the moment but in making it fully transparent we are making sure there is a system in place in five years' time that still works.

"I think there are areas of uncertainly in the system, such as the claiming of conference fees, where we need clarification but overall it is not in bad shape."

Forth Tory councillor Allan Jackson, who claimed just 349 for telephone and IT expenses last year, added: "It is obviously good news that the expenses bills are coming down. The basic wage for councillors has been gradually coming up so people might not feel the need to put things on expenses like they used to.

"And the taxi expenses stories of the last few years will have sharpened the minds of a few people in terms of what they claim for."

PLAYING BY THE RULES

DUCK islands, moat cleaning services and adult films are unlikely to be appearing on a city councillor's expense claim sheet any time soon.

The rules governing the city's 58 elected members' allowances and expenses are fairly tight and do not leave the door open for any Westminster-style payouts.

All councillors can claim for travel expenses for meetings or work both in their wards and at council offices as long as they are on council business.

Although all councillors are entitled to a free annual Lothian Buses pass, they can also claim up to 40p a mile in mileage payments, or taxi fares where it can be shown there was no viable transport alternative. If representing the council on business at meetings or conferences away from the Capital, councillors can claim up to 94.11 a night for accommodation and meal costs.

Train or flight costs are also met by the council, though – as was illustrated when Lord Provost George Grubb was intending to visit India last year – there are no official rules on whether councillors should travel first or second class.

Councillors can also claim back the cost of calls on council-issued mobile phones, as well as the cost of accessing the internet or e-mail on these phones.