Councillor expenses reach almost £4000

Councillors in East Ayrshire claimed almost £4,000 in expenses last year.

- STEPHEN BARK

New figures published by the council revealed the total pay and expenses claimed and expenditure met by the council for 2024-25.

In total, councillors were paid £813,018.99 last year-an increase of 3.7 per cent on the previous year.

Council leader Douglas Reid received the highest annual salary at £42,698.04.

Cllr Jim McMahon, depute leader of the council, had the second highest salary at £31,743 though this was partly due to the change in Provost during the year after Cllr Jim Todd stood down in October.

Provost Claire Leitch-who was Depute Provost until October-earned £31,148.41.

Cllrs Graham Barton, Elaine Cowan, Barry Douglas, Drew Filson, Neal Ingram, Iain Linton, John McFadzean and Claire Maitland - who all hold cabinet positions - also earned more than £30,000.

Expenses claimed by councillors fell to £3,743.10 last year-down from £5,405.40 in 2023-24 and £6,722.98 in 2022-23.