A COUNCIL chief has defended Derbyshire councillors who claimed over £1m in expenses and allowances, saying they are "worth every penny" of tax-payers' money.
Derbyshire County Council leader Cllr John Williams spoke out as the amount paid to members for the 2007/08 tax year was revealed.
The total – £1,031,964.02 – includes a basic allowance for each member, special responsibility payment for cabinet members and committee chairmen, plus travel and subsistence costs.
Cllr Williams, who received the highest total amount – £41,256 – said councillors would receive a much larger pay packet working for a comparable private company.
He said: "They're worth every penny. We do a good job for the money we get paid.
"I'd like anybody to come and shadow me or any of my cabinet members to see if they would do what we do for that kind of money."
He said Derbyshire County Council was a billion pound a year business which provided excellent services, adding: "We set the lowest council tax for the last eight years and we've delivered value for money for the people of Derbyshire."
The council's 64 members and five co-opted members claimed a total of £108,857.59 for travel and subsistence.
In this category schools chief Cllr Alan Charles made the highest claim – £6,934.26 – among councillors within the Derbyshire Times circulation area.
The member for Killamarsh said: "The vast majority of that is mileage. There are 437 schools in Derbyshire and I visit as many as I possibly can over the year."
Cllr Charles clocked up 10,125 miles on council business and claimed £1,965.54 for subsistence.
He said he typically works 60 hours a week, adding: "I think taxpayers get exceptionally good value for money. I put in an awful lot of work and hours for £25,000 a year. A similar role in industry would get double that figure."
jennifer.ivers@derbyshiretimes.co.
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