POOLE’S 42 elected councillors received more than £538,000 in allowances during the last financial year, figures reveal.

All councillors received a basic £9,374.04 allowance and then special responsibility allowances were paid to cabinet members, group leaders and those taking the helm on certain committees.

The total claimed by councillors, including travel and subsistence, was £538,063.01.

However, this total rose to £541,856.81 when the allowances of five co-opted standards committee members were taken into account.

Borough of Poole leader Cllr Elaine Atkinson, who received £31,774.08 in allowances between April 2013 and March 2014, said: “Members’ allowances are set by an independent panel made up of representatives across the community.

“The panel was advised that we would not be looking to increase members’ allowances this year to show support for staff at the authority who have faced pay freezes.”

Last week the Daily Echo reported that Bournemouth’s councillors received more than £760,000 in allowances during the same period.

Bournemouth leader Cllr John Beesley claimed £36,566 – almost £5,000 more than councillor Atkinson.

Meanwhile, deputy Borough of Poole leader Cllr Mike White received £23,427.42, slightly more than his Bournemouth counterpart, Nicola Greene, who received £22, 764.

Poole councillor Judy Butt, who found herself at loggerheads with Cllr Atkinson over the traveller site issue – before being sacked from her cabinet position earlier this year – received £19,107.34, of which £9,733.30 was a special responsibility allowance.

“Poole allowances are less than those paid in Bournemouth,” said Cllr Atkinson.

“I believe that in 2003 it was agreed that anyone receiving a special responsibility allowance could receive only one special responsibility allowance no matter how many committees or panels they chaired.

“When I became a councillor over 20 years ago we were paid a small hourly rate to attend meetings.

“Nowadays the workload of every councillor has increased and a number of leading councillors now carry out statutory and legal responsibilities.”

Poole members allowances 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013

  • Adams (P) 17,352.49
  • Atkinson (E) 31,774.08
  • Brooke (M) 12,490.94
  • Brown (D) 13,854.00
  • Burden (L) 9,624.87
  • Butt (J) 19,107.34
  • Carpenter (S) 9,374.04
  • Chandler (G) 7,468.46
  • Clements (B) 13,854.00
  • Clements (J) 9,374.04
  • Cox (S) 9,374.04
  • Dion (X) 20,574.00
  • Eades (P) 18,334.08
  • Evans ( C) 9,374.04
  • Godfrey (R) 9,529.20
  • Goodall (P) 9,544.03
  • Haines (M) 9,374.04
  • Hodges (J) 9,471.82
  • Howell (M) 12,715.44
  • Le Poidevin (EM) 9,374.04
  • Maiden (P) 9,485.46
  • Matthews (C ) 12,117.09
  • Meachin (C ) 4,209.10
  • Moore (S) 14,175.99
  • Parker (R ) 10,071.35
  • Parkinson (C ) 9,374.04
  • Pawlowski (P) 9,569.33
  • Potter (I) 12,405.06
  • Pratt (J) 10,178.25
  • Rampton (J) 13,854.00
  • Rampton (K) 15,783.90
  • Slade (V) 9,374.04
  • Sorton (J) 20,574.00
  • Stribley (A) 9,374.04
  • Trent (A) 14,151.54
  • Walton (J) 20,574.00
  • White (M) 23,427.42
  • Wilkins (M) 9,374.04
  • Wilson (C ) 9,551.22
  • Wilson (G) 9,374.04
  • Wilson (L) 9,619.25
  • Woodcock (A) 9,506.86