Adding up cost of councillors' claims
The latest pay and allowances for Nottinghamshire’s county councillors have been made public.
The leader, Mrs Kay Cutts, received £42,900 in the financial year that ended in April.
Mrs Cutts, the member for Radcliffe, took over as leader in June last year after the Conservatives gained overall control from Labour.
Mrs Cutts received her £12,940 basic member’s pay and a £29,960 special responsibility allowance for being leader.
She did not claim travel or food and drink expenses.
The member for Farnsfield and Lowdham, Mr Andy Stewart (Con) received £34,648.
This included his member’s pay of £12,940, an £18,251 special responsibility allowance for being the cabinet member for personnel and performance, and £3,456 in travel expenses.
The deputy leader, Mr Martin Suthers (Con) who represents Bingham, received £34,395.
This included £18,901 as deputy leader, £2,534 in travel expenses, and about £18 in food and drink expenses.
Mr Richard Butler (Con) the cabinet member for environment and sustainability, received £32,101, including £18,068 for his cabinet role and £1,092 in travel expenses.
Southwell and Caunton member Mr Bruce Laughton (Con) was the next highest claimer of the Advertiser area’s other councillors, receiving £27,014.
He received £9,707 for his deputy cabinet role for community safety, £4,211 in travel expenses, and £154 for food and drink.
Mrs Sue Saddington (Con) for Farndon and Muskham, who is chairman of the communities standing select committee, received £26,720.
Mr Keith Girling (Con) for Newark West, the deputy cabinet member for culture and community, received £25,235.
The only Labour councillor in the Advertiser area, Mrs Stella Smedley, who is the shadow portfolio holder for transport and highways, received £24,805.
Mr John Hempsall (Con) for Tuxford, the chairman of the rights of way committee, received £24,092.
Mr Mark Spencer (Con) for Calverton, who was appointed deputy cabinet member for community safety after the [county council] election, received £22,648.
Mr Spencer became the new Sherwood MP last month but remains a county councillor.
He said he would not claim county council expenses after this summer’s Parliament recess.
Collingham’s Mr Vincent Dobson (Con) who was formerly vice-chairman of the joint health scrutiny committee, received £22,352.
Mr Keith Walker (Con) for Balderton, chairman of the planning and licensing committee, received £21,301.
The Independent member for Rufford, Mr Les Ward, who replaced Mr Andy Freeman (Lab) at the last election, received £17,555. He was formerly vice-chairman of the standards committee.
Mr Freeman, who was deputy member for children and young people’s services, received £2,477 before losing his seat.
Mr Geoff Merry (Ind) who took Mrs Yvonne Woodhead’s Blidworth seat at the last election, received £17,231, including an allowance for being vice-chairman of the scrutiny committee.
Mrs Woodhead (Lab) who was the portfolio holder for adult social care and health, received £4,512 before losing her seat.
The only councillor in the Advertiser area who did not receive a special responsibility allowance was Newark East member Mr Stuart Wallace (Con).
Mr Wallace, elected in September after the death of Mr Peter Prebble, received £7,697 for member’s pay and travelling expenses.
He was appointed deputy cabinet member for adult social care and health at the end of April.
