News / The cost of local democracy
THE amount of expenses claimed by Shetland’s 22 councillors has gone up by 15 per cent in 2013/14 to almost £95,000.
The rise follows a reduction of such claims by 20 per cent the previous year, which at the time was interpreted as proof of councillors’ commitment to the local authority’s saving targets.
On Friday, Shetland Islands Council published details of councillors’ remuneration, paid for by the Scottish government, as well as their expenses.
For the first time the SIC is also publishing details of attendance rates of council meetings for each elected member.
Topping the league is political leader Gary Robinson who claimed expenses worth almost £17,000 in addition to his £27,000 salary.
Second in the league is former chairman of the Shetland College Board, Drew Ratter, who clocked up almost £11,000 in expenses.
Not surprisingly those from the outlying areas, particular the islands, had the highest claims for mileage, while council convener Malcolm Bell spent relatively little on mileage and significantly more on travel outside of Shetland.
Only one, Southend councillor George Smith, managed to attend all 57 council and committee meetings he has a seat on.
Eight others managed to attend 90 per cent or more: Mark Burgess, Gary Cleaver, Alastair Cooper, Steven Coutts, Allison Duncan, Billy Fox, Cecil Smith and Vaila Wishart.
In total 100 public council and committee meetings were held in 2013/14. There is no data available on attendance of seminars and other meetings, which are being held behind closed doors.
A council spokeswoman said: “In future years, councillors’ reasons for non-attendance will also be logged and published; these will include illness, attendance at business meetings off-island and personal business.
A detailed breakdown of attendance can be found here.
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