Newham councillors getting �25k each expenses

Newham councillors were paid a total �576,547 last year in addition to their basic allowance, meaning that the average councillor received �24,333 to service their wards.

Newham councillors were paid a total �576,547 last year in addition to their basic allowance, meaning that the average councillor received �24,333 to service their wards.

The figure, published as a public notice entitled “Members’ allowances”, is spread across 40 current members of the council from April 1 2010 to March 31 2011 who were paid the sum as a special responsibility allowance (SRA) that does not include their basic allowance of �10,734 which all councillors, excepting the Mayor, is paid to help them deliver their services.

The highest paid member of the council was Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales who was paid �80,695 in SRA and the second highest was his Deputy and executive member for Housing and Customer Service Cllr Andrew Baikie (Little Ilford) who was paid �39,042.

Keeping Newham clean and green proved a costly business as Cllrs Ian Corbett (East Ham Central) and Richard Crawford (Stratford and New Town), who are executive members for Infrastructure and Environment and Community Affairs respectively, were third on a total of �32,077 each which includes payment as representatives of the East London Waste Authority.

The lowest amount was paid to Cllr Patricia Holland (Custom House) who received just �361 and Mary Skyers (East Ham Central) who was paid �515 for their additional work on the council.

Six current councillors did not receive any SRA at all and the basic allowance for councillors newly elected last year was reduced to �9,579.

All figures exclude tax and national insurance deductions.