Council expenses totals released

The figures, released to members at last night's council meeting, show councillor expenditure is up almost 10,000 since 2008.213,157 was paid out to the borough's 15 councillors the year before, making a 8,494 difference. Sinn Fein councillor John McElhinney amassed the lowest expenditure for a consecuative year with 9,936. Councillor McElhinney's allowance was down 332 from the 2008 expenses and allowance report. Party colleague councillor Paddy Butcher clocked up the highest expenditure, also for the second year running, with 21,044, up 2,056 from 2008 allowance and expenses of 18,088. Councillor's expenditure is calculated from the addition of each councillor's basic allowance, which currently stands at 9,500 each plus Special Responsibility Allowance, milleage, conference and courses cost, DPP allowance and Transition Committee allowance. The highest mileage claim by a councillor was made by UUP Alderman Jack Rankin at 2,382 whilst the lowest was from DUP Alderman George Robinson at 54. Apart from the basic allowance, mileage and DPP allowances were the highest totals contributing to the 2009/2010 expenditure report at 14,129 and 25,200 respectively.

Councillor's Expenditure 2009/2010

Paddy Butcher (SF) - 21,044

Cathal O'hOisin (SF) - 20,350

Michael Coyle (SDLP) - 18,573

Brenda Chivers(SF) - 18,401

Gerry Mullan (SDLP) - 16,504

Marion Donagahy (SF) - 15,843

Leslie Cubitt (UUC) - 15,111

Jack Rankin (UUP) - 14,494

Alan Robinson (DUP) - 12,488

Edwin Stevenson (UUP) - 12,284

George Robinson (DUP) - 12,235

Boyd Douglas (TUV) - 12,280

Michael Carten (SDLP) - 11,585

Anne Brolly (SF) - 10,523

John McElhinney (SF) - 9,936