Shropshire Council has paid out more than £1.2 million in members’ allowances since it was formed last year.

The highest payout was £33,554 to the leader of the Conservative-run authority Keith Barrow, but his role is virtually a full-time job. Allowances totalled £1,220,292 of which £1,140,000 went in a variety of payments to the council’s 74 members.

The balance went in allowances to more than 80 former county and district councillors, as well as some co-opted members, involved in the transition to unitary status from when the new authority came into being on April 1 to the elections in June.

Claire Porter, head of the legal department, said the level of allowances was set by an independent remuneration panel.

The second highest amount – £27,439 – went to chairman Malcolm Pate.

Roles

His duties involve attending functions for the council both in and out of the county and he has a special responsibility allowance of £12,493 with travel and subsistence adding a further £2,871.

Cabinet members with one exception claimed allowances ranging from £20,468 to £25,918. But eight other councillors also claimed more than £20,000 which took into account their special roles such as leader of the opposition or chairman of scrutiny committees and other bodies.

The lowest allowances amount went to Mal Price, who holds the cabinet portfolio for housing. He claimed just £7,021.

Among the co-opted and former members, claims were relatively small, with many only claiming travel and subsistence.

The highest amount – £3,682 – went to Barbara Craig, a cabinet member on the old county council holding the social care portfolio but she failed to gain a seat on the unitary.

Allowances are based on the principle that no member should be out of pocket for undertaking their duties and that the level of allowance should not be a disincentive to anyone wanting to stand for election.

By Dave Morris