EXPENSES paid to Kent County Council’s 84 councillors totalled £1.8million last year.

Figures just published show that the amount paid to members rose slightly on the previous year’s total of £1.75million.

KCC is legally required to publish how much councillors receive and its most recent report for 2002 – 2003 highlights that by far the largest slice of money – some £1.5million - is in so-called basic allowances and special responsibility allowances, which are set by an independent panel.

A further £210,000 was claimed in mileage and fares. In KCC’s case, each councillor receives a basic allowance of £11,330.

On top of that, councillors with particular responsibilities get additional allowances.

Members of KCC’s ten-strong cabinet receive a further £23,000, with the leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart paid £35,350 and deputy leader Cllr Sarah Hohler £26,000.

In total, the cabinet accounted for nearly £400,000 of the overall sum. The opposition Labour group leader Cllr Mike Eddy received £37,234 and Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Trudy Dean £23,751.

Cllr Nick Chard, KCC’s Conservative finance cabinet member, said that as a percentage of KCC’s overall budget, the expenses bill represented less than 0.1per cent.

He also pointed out the administration had agreed to a freeze on their allowances and had not accepted a recommendation by the independent panel that they should take the same pay rise as staff.

He added: "It is a small percentage of our budget. In terms of value for money, being a cabinet member is the equivalent of a full-time job and for the leader, more than a full-time job."