Council costs rise by £11,000 in a year
Salaries, allowances and expenses paid out by cash strapped Powys County Council increased by more than £11,000 in the last year.
The council has earmarked £12 million worth of cuts to be made in the coming year, with around £3 million of them already being achieved.
However, in the last year the amount paid to its members in allowances and expenses amounted to £1.314 million, up 0.864 per cent on the previous year.
A report is set to go before the full county council in Llandrindod Wells on Thursday, setting out the breakdown of full expenses.
The information will then need to be published before September 30.
Among the statistics, travelling expenses paid to councillors dropped for the year 2017/18 to £89,894, down £7,421 on the previous year.
However, the amount paid our in basic salaries to the 73 members increased.
In 2016/17, a total of £964,122 was paid to the members, and that figure rose by 0.595 per cent to £969,860 in the past year.
The amount paid to people in senior or civic roles, such as cabinet members, rose by £13,233 to £248,173.
The top earners among the cabinet were council leader Rosemarie Harris, who was elected to the role following last year's local county elections.
Her total take home amounted to £51,416, with £31,771 coming from her senior salary, and £6,255 being made up in travelling expenses.
The other top earners are made up of other cabinet members.
Cabinet member for education, Myfanwy Alexnader, who represents Banwy, earned £30,780, with £3,927 being claimed in travel allowances.
Deputy leader and finance portfolio holder Aled Davies' total figure amounted to £34,898.
One former cabinet member, Liam Fitzpatrick was axed in a cabinet re-shuffle back in March, however still earned £30,634.
Children's and adults services cabinet members, Rachel Powell and Stephen Hayes, earned £29,998 and £32,545 respectively.
The report will be discussed at Thursday's meeting, before being published.
