ALLOWANCES and expenses paid to councillors in Gwent totalled £4.5 million last year.

The 2013/14 figures also reveal the five council leaders in Caerphilly, Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent cost the taxpayer £227,000 between them.

The highest-earning leader was Caerphilly’s Harry Andrews, at £47,813.16, with the lowest-paid leader being Blaenau Gwent’s Hedley McCarthy, who earned £42,300.

Monmouthshire’s Peter Fox took home £45,529.35 last year, while Newport’s Bob Bright earned £47,500.08 and Torfaen’s Bob Wellington, £44,166.63.

Caerphilly, which is the largest Gwent authority, with 73 councillors, paid the highest amount in allowances and expenses, which includes food and travel claims, totalling £1,216,875.59.

Blaenau Gwent Council paid out the lowest of the five authorities with £771,842.48.

Newport Council paid the second highest amount, with £908,670.53, followed by Monmouthshire at £819,953,41, and Torfaen at £800,066.29.

The highest expenses claim across all five councils was made by Monmouthshire councillor Phil Hobson, who claimed £4,235.85 in travel allowances.

Blaenau Gwent Council’s entire travel expenses totalled £5,961.05, with Newport councillors claiming only £455.82 in mileage allowances.

All five councils saw an increase in allowances and expenses paid out compared to 2012/13 with Blaenau Gwent councillors claiming £20,729.21 extra, Newport councillors claiming £11,827.90 more, Caerphilly £18,909.09 more, Monmouthshire £6,621.45 more and Torfaen claiming an additional £3,611.

Councillors are entitled to claim a basic allowance, which is around £13,000 for their work, and some posts are given additional allowances for undertaking extra responsibility as leader, deputy leader, cabinet members or committee chairmen. Mayors and deputy mayors are also paid extra allowances for their civic duties.

Travel expenses are claimed by councillors to cover their transport costs on council business, and food and overnight stays can also be claimed for if councillors are away from their area.

Money is also available to help councillors pay for care for dependent children and adults.

Councillors also receive additional payments if they sit on panels for public bodies including South Wales Fire and Rescue and Gwent Police.

Allowances are calculated by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, and councillors can choose to accept or decline the maximum amount it recommends each year.

COUNCILLORS' EXPENSES IN FULL

Blaenau Gwent:

Blaenau Gwent Councillor Expenses

Caerphilly:

Caerphilly Councillor Expenses

Monmouthshire:

Monmouthshire Councillor Expenses

Newport:

Newport Councillor Expenses

Torfaen:

Torfaen Councillor Expenses