£313,000 expenses bill from councillors

£313,000 expenses bill from councillors

8 August 2012

THE cost of Down councillors to the district’s ratepayers has been revealed with the publication of politicians’ expenses for the last financial year.

The local politicians claimed £313,887 for the 12 months starting in March 2011 according to latest figures published by the council. It is the first time the expenses have been published for several years.

The expenses are made up of the basic allowance of £9,738 paid to all councillors along with mileage and subsistence payments as well as money paid for membership of the policing partnership and other outside bodies.

Topping the list was Ardglass councillor Dermot Curran who, as council chairman for the year was expected to have the largest expenses. The chairman received £21,256 which included a special allowance of £6,150 to help him fulfill his duties.

In second place was Ballynahinch SDLP councillor Patsy Toman who claimed £19,709 which included a special allowance of £3,034 along with mileage payments of £4,389. Mr. Toman travels extensively as a council representative on the East Border Region Committee.

The third highest payment of £17,684 went to Rowallane DUP councillor William Dick who received a special payment of over £5,800 in line with his chairmanship of Down District Policing Partnership.

In fourth place was Ballynahinch Sinn Fein councillor Mickey Coogan, who received £17,106. In fifth was the SDLP’s Eamonn O’Neill, from Castlewellan, with £16,339, just ahead of his Newcastle SDLP colleague, Carmel O’Boyle, with £15,667.

The figures are slightly confusing because they span two council periods, before and after the local elections of May 2011. Therefore councillors who left the council at that time — such as Peter Fitzpatrick, Eddie Rea, Jim Wells and Peter Bowles — received relatively small amounts.

Councillors who joined the council last May — Terry Andrews, Patrick Clarke, Garth Craig and Walter Lyons — received less than the long serving councillors.

One other anomaly centred around Saul SDLP councillor Peter Craig, who passed away while in office, and his succecessor, Gareth Sharvin.