A FREEDOM of Information Act (FOI) application has revealed exactly what the highest travel expense-claiming Conwy councillors received for last year.
The application revealed a breakdown of the expenses of the five highest-claiming councillors, four of whom are, or were, cabinet members.
The FOI application, submitted by a member of the public, revealed five councillors claimed nearly £5,000 between them in mileage during 2023-2024.
The expenses are additional to councillors’ salaries.
The FOI excluded Conwy’s leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, who claimed £816.75 in travel expenses on top of his then £59,400 salary.
In 2023/2024, 12 of the 55 elected members claimed mileage or other public transport costs, with one member also claiming for subsistence and other expenses.
In reality, the FOI sheds little light on the details of the ‘travel expenses’ claimed, other than revealing the mileage travelled and paid-for parking; however, the information does highlight councillor privileges compared to council workers, with the latter unable to claim for travelling to and from work.
Councillors can claim expenses for travelling to council meetings and committees, council-related body meetings, official appointments, official training, certain official duties, and certain council-related business, which is too extensive to list here.
The amount that can be claimed is set by Welsh Government.
This means every Conwy councillor can claim for every official journey to attend the Bodlondeb or Coed Pella HQ, whereas council staff cannot claim for travel to their place of work.
A Conwy County Council spokeswoman commented: “Provided the reason for the journey to Bodlondeb or Coed Pella was recognised as an approved duty, any elected member (not just a cabinet member) may claim their mileage for those journeys.”
But Conwy says councillors can’t claim for ‘any of the work elected members do in their day-to-day constituency or ward responsibilities’.
So, for example, elected members can’t claim mileage for visiting different people in their ward, or holding a surgery, or going to local community events.
The council pays councillors 0.45p for every mile claimed.
Of the five councillors claiming the most in expenses, four are, or were, cabinet members, who, generally speaking, attend more meetings but earn significantly more in salary.
Cabinet members currently earn £37,799, a figure rising to £40,036 next year.
In 2023/24 cabinet members’ salary was £35,640.
The basic salary of a backbench councillor is now £18,666 (£17,600 in 2023/24).
The FOI application revealed Cllr Elizabeth Roberts claimed £2,147.85 for mileage, travelling 4,773 miles. Cllr Roberts lives in rural Dolwydden, one of the constituencies furthest from Bodlondeb. She served on the cabinet between 19/05/22 and 03/11/24.
Kinmel Bay councillor Nigel Smith, a cabinet member since 06/09/23, claimed £800.55 in mileage for travelling 1,779 miles – as well as £15.50 for parking.
Pandy councillor Penny Andow claimed £361.80 for travelling 804 miles. Cllr Andow joined the cabinet on 19/05/22.
Uwch Conwy councillor Dilwyn Roberts claimed £523.80 for 1,164 miles as a backbencher of a rural ward. Cllr Roberts didn’t join the cabinet until 28/09/24.
Cllr Roberts also claimed £254.94 from the Snowdonia National Park Authority.
Backbencher Abergele councillor Paul Luckock claimed £648 for 1,440 miles.
The local democracy reporting service approached all five councillors included in the FOI to give each the opportunity to provide clarity on their expenses claims. Two responded.
Cllr Elizabeth Roberts commented: “For clarity, my claim is just for mileage both as a cabinet member (former) and as the Armed Forces Champion, which means that I have to sometimes work out of county to attend meetings,” she said.
“Of course, the geography of where I live in Dolwyddelan, especially in relation to Conwy and Colwyn Bay offices, makes a substantial difference.”
She added: “I, of course, am already seeing a big difference in my mileage since I decided for personal reasons to step down from cabinet as was shared in the press statement.”
Cllr Paul Luckock said: “As you know, I’m a life-long trade unionist. I believe in that process, whereby you advocate for your terms and conditions in the system that we have. Councillors don’t have a role in that. Welsh Government decide, but I’m glad that Welsh Government decide to pay us expenses.
“As I say, I just claim travel expenses from Abergele to Bodlondeb and back when I’m going to an official meeting, a council meeting. So every month, I probably claim for four or five meetings I attend each month.”
He added: “I’m quite happy to defend that to anybody. People will disagree. That is their absolute right. I’m absolutely content claiming modest travelling expenses. Many councillors don’t, and I respect their right. Public interest is important, but If people don’t like me claiming travel expenses and that is a reason why they won’t vote for me, fine. That’s life.”
Cabinet members Cllr Nigel Smith, Cllr Penny Andow, and Cllr Dilwyn Roberts did not respond.
Full list of expenses claimed by councillors in 2023/24:
- Leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey claimed £816.75 in travel expenses.
- Cllr Penny Andow claimed £361.80 in travel expenses.
- Cllr Goronwy Edwards claimed £103.50 in travel expenses.
- Cllr Nigel Smith claimed £800.55 in travel expenses as well as £15.50 in subsistence and other expenses (parking).
- Cllr Elizabeth Roberts claimed £2,147.85 in travel expenses.
- Cllr Geoffrey Stewart claimed £158.40 in subsistence and other expenses.
- Cllr Cheryl Carlisle claimed £217.80 in travel expenses.
- Cllr John Roberts claimed £111.40 for public transport.
- Cllr Gwennol Ellis claimed £216.00 in travel expenses.
- Cllr Abdul Khan claimed £79.60 for public transport and £104.54 in subsistence and other expenses.
- Cllr Paul Luckock claimed £648 in travelling expenses.
- Cllr Stephen Price claimed £298.35 in travel expenses.
- Cllr Dilwyn Roberts claimed £523.80 in travel expenses.
The full list of 2023/24 claims can be viewed here: https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Council/Councillors-AMs-MPs/Assets/documents/Councillors-Allowances/Remuneration-Paid-to-Councillors-2023-2024.pdf
