COUNCILLORS in Christchurch cost the borough's council taxpayers almost £110,000 in allowances and expenses last year.

But both elected and executive chiefs claim the townsfolk are getting a good deal for their local democracy.

Figures published for the 2004/5 financial year show the 24 elected members and the independent chairman of the watchdog standards committee between them received £109,846.

The bill, made up of a £3,050 basic annual allowance coupled with special responsibility awards for council leader, committee chairmen, political group leaders and members of the licensing panel, is equivalent to £5.50 for the average band D household.

Top of the league table was 2004/5 council leader and resources committee chairman Cllr Alan Griffiths with £10,675 and his successor Cllr John Lofts, previously chairman of the community services committee, whose allowances and expenses amounted to £10,078.

Cllr Lofts said: "Anyone can argue the toss, but I think it is value for money for the work councillors do in the community. It is a continuous workload."

He said the allowances were set by an independent review board in line with government guidelines and in Christchurch the 2004/5 figures were frozen at the previous year's level to keep council tax costs down.

The council has since voted to increase the figure by four-and-a-quarter per cent in line with inflation to add £130 to the basic allowance for the current year.

Cllr Lofts said: "Christchurch is a small council and we are still below what equivalent councils provide."

The payments - which are taxable - are designed to encourage a wider cross section of the community to serve as councillors by covering overheads such as telephone bills and postage costs.

"I can't imagine anyone would want to be a councillor just for the money," said town hall finance director Kelvin White.

"It is fairly modest compared with the county and other councils, and it is fairly small recompense for the work that is involved," he added.

First published: August 24, 2005