Powys County Council salaries and travel expenses sees yearly pay reach £1.32 million
Councillors were paid £1.32 million in salaries and expenses in the past year, new figures have revealed.
The total, paid to the 74 elected members in Powys, is an increase just shy of one per cent of the amount paid out during the previous financial year.
The leader of Powys County Council, Barry Thomas, from Llanfihangel, was the highest paid councillor last year. His salary rose from £26,773 to £45,657 with expenses, which included £5,548 for travel.
Second on the list was deputy leader of the authority Councillor Graham Brown, from Llandrinio, whose £36,401.50 income rose from his normal £17,999 salary.
Montgomeryshire members making the top 10 included Dolforwyn Councillor Wynne Jones who was paid £36,118 last year, while Llanwddyn Councillor Darren Mayor was paid £32,932.
Councillor Stephen Hayes from Montgomery was paid £31,214, and Welshpool Councillor Phil Pritchard £30,915.
The four Montgomeryshire members made the top 10 largely because of their cabinet position.
An increase in travel expenses was also due to the distance travelled regularly to County Hall in Llandrindod Wells.
The standard councillor salary, received by all elected councillors, is £13,336.44, which increases if a member has increased council duties on top of being a county councillor.
John Evans, spokesman for Powys County Council, said the basic salary and senior salary for councillors in Powys was set by The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, IRPW, and not the county council.
The IRPW is independent of central and local government.
Mr Evans added: "The panel set and fix the rate of pay but individual councillors retain the choice to forego all or part of their individual entitlement and is not a matter for the council."
To see the full list of expenses visit the council website.
