Councillors' expense claims total revealed on Cheshire East list

Cheshire East councillors' claims for expenses totalled £1,357,803.01 last year.
The "Chronicle" found out the figure after obtaining the councillors' expenses list via the Freedom of Information Act.
The council took nearly a month to reply with the information that used to be routinely put in agendas.
The list shows that in addition to the £11,199.96 basic allowance given, some councillors are doubling their income with additional expenses.
Out of the 85 listed, council leader Coun Wesley Fitzgerald had the highest total at £45,255.16 while nine councillors including Sandbach's councillors Elsie Alcock and Andrew Barratt claimed no additional expenses.
Coun Fitzgerald received £27,999.96 for his responsibility, and claimed £831 for general expenses and £5,224.24 travel costs.
He was unavailable for comment as the "Chronicle" went to press as he is on leave until Monday.
Congleton town mayor and Cabinet member with responsibility for performance and capacity, Coun David Brown, received a total of £28,271.47, which works out an average of £543.68 per week.
Coun Brown received £14,000.04 for responsibility and claimed £46.50 for general expenses, £3.10 for subsistence and total travel of £3,021.87.

• For all news in full and all photos, buy this week's "Chronicle". Alternatively, subscribe to our on-line PDF Congleton edition - see homepage for details - or download the free iPhone / iPad App and subscribe monthly. All photos can be ordered on-line - see home page.