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