Caerphilly County Borough paid out more than £1.2 million in councillor expenses and allowances last financial year, according official figures from the local authority.
The amount – £1,236, 901.91 – covers councillor allowances, which is in effect their wages, and other expenses such as travel and care allowance.
Each councillor in Caerphilly County Borough gets a basic allowance of £13,380.47 with those having extra responsibilities getting more on top.
The highest earner was former council leader Lindsay Whittle, who is now Plaid’s South East Wales AM, with £49,403.60. This included the basic allowance, £35,526.99 extra responsibility allowance for council leader and £496.20 in travel expenses.
Mr Whittle stood down as council leader in May after his election to the Assembly but remains a councillor. He has waived his basic councillor allowance for this year.
Councillor allowances are set by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales – a separate public body to the council.
For the last three years, councillors have voted not to take increases in their allowances set by the panel, meaning that current levels are those set in 2008.
Caerphilly Council’s current leader Cllr Allan Pritchard said: “We have a duty to serve the people of Caerphilly County Borough and put their best interests first.
“Everyone is feeling the impact of the current economic climate and we felt it would be inappropriate for us as elected members to increase the rate of allowances for members – this has been the case since 2008.
“I also would point out in an article just looking at South East Wales councils we are the largest of the five authorities and the rates for councillors are set by an Independent Remuneration Panel and hence why Caerphilly’s leader’s rate is higher than Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire, being almost twice the population size.
“Our council is one of the largest local authorities in Wales, therefore the total figure for expenses claimed will be higher than many of our neighbouring smaller councils.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Members Allowances 2010 to 2011