48 councillors claimed £161 in food and drink in one year (From Bucks Free Press)

48 councillors claimed £161 in food and drink in one year

5:09pm Wednesday 13th May 2009 in

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FOOD and drink expenses worth £161 were made by 48 Wycombe District Council members in 12 months, it was revealed today.

The council issued a public statement about the latest available figures after the massive row over MP expenses.

The 2007/08 “travel and subsistence” claims of £14,203 has been in the public domain since last year.

Yet the authority today revealed the vast majority of this was for travel - and the remaining £161 was for subsistence.

This £161 was shared between 48 councillors - an average of £3.35 each.

Yet the allowances bill, councillors’ salaries, was far higher with 76 members claiming £374,468.54.

There are 60 councillors on the authority but more collected allowances because some left the council and new councillors came on board in the 2007 election.

The statement was made after Bucks Free Press requested through the Freedom of Information Act the allowances and expenses for 2008/09, the most recent year.

Yet the statement said these would not be available until the autumn as the claims “are still being finalised”.

It said: “When the Council’s accounts are closed the claims will be audited in the usual way and the schedule of allowances and expenses published in autumn.”

To see how much the councillors claimed click here.

The Free Press has asked the other three councils in south Bucks – Buckinghamshire County Council, Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council – for 2008/09 expenses through the Act.

By law the councils have to respond by June 4.

The WDC statement said: “The average amount claimed was £180.”

It added: “Councillors receive a basic allowance which may be supplemented with an additional responsibility allowance for example if they if they hold an office such as being a cabinet member.

“Additionally, WDC councillors, like all councillors in England and Wales, are able to claim for out of pocket expenses in the pursuit of their council duties.

“The rules determining what can be claimed are prescribed in statutory instruments issued by Parliament and the local rates of reimbursement are laid out in the WDC Constitution which is published on our website.

“In general councillors can claim for two main elements of expenses - travel and subsistence. “Travel costs cover either a standard mileage rate and car park charges or reimbursement for cost of public transport fares.

“They may be paid against a receipted claim for attendance at any of the eligible meetings laid down in the Constitution.

“Subsistence allowances may be paid to cover meals when none are provided at the hosting venue and are limited to a maximum amount depending on the length of time the Councillor is away from home and the nature of the meeting i.e. morning afternoon or evening.

“No discretionary additional payments may be made.”