CHESHIRE East Council has revealed what expenses its councillors claimed during 2020/21.

Half of Crewe area councillors [eight in all] claimed only the basic allowance of £12,351 for a full year's service on the authority.

Members of the authority can claim extra expenses for travel and subsistence, while special responsibility allowances for those holding portfolios, while leadership duties can also increase their renumeration.

Crewe North councillor Jill Rhodes, who holds the title of Chair of the adults and health committee, topped the table of Crewe councillors claiming £26,536.92, which included £14,185.92 of special responsibility allowance.

Wybunbury councillor and the council's Conservative opposition leader Janet Clowes claimed £20,915.

Haslington councillor Steven Edgar's £17,677.61 was swelled by £5,188.01 special responsibility allowance during a year in which he served as the council's deputy mayor.

Cheshire East Council leader, Sandbach Heath and East representative, Sam Corcoran's claim of £39,401.13 was the largest and included £27,050.13 special responsibility allowance.

Cllr Corcoran says as a large unitary authority the total allowances are proportionate and in line with most other unitary authorities in England.

"These allowances represent a fair reimbursement for the time and personal costs incurred by elected members when carrying out their responsibilities on behalf of the council and the residents of Cheshire East," he said.

Crewe councillors

Anthony Critchley (Crewe Central) £12,351 (basic)

Joy Bratherton (Crewe East) £12,351 (basic)

Suzanne Brookfield (Crewe East) £12,351 (basic)

Steven Hogben (Crewe South) £12,467 (including £66.49 general exs + £50.22 travel)

Laura Smith (Crewe South) £12,351 (basic)

Sally Handley (Crewe St. Barnabas) £12,351

Hazel Faddes (Crewe East) £12,351 (basic)

Jill Rhodes (Crewe North) £26,536.92 (including £14,185.92 special responsibility allowance)

Marilyn Houston (Crewe West) £15,203.66 (including £2,852.66 special responsibility allowance)

Byron Evans (Leighton) £12,351 (basic)

Wistaston

Margaret Simon £14,116.92 (including £1,765.92 special responsibility allowance)

Jacqui Weatherill £12,362.88 (including £11.88 travel)

Willaston and Rope

Allen Gage £12,351 (basic)

Shavington

David Marren £12,463.41 (including £112.41 travel)

Haslington

Mary Addison £12,389.52 (including £33.30 general exs + £5.22 travel)

Steven Edgar £17,677.61 (including £5,188.01 special responsibility allowance + £138.60 travel)

Wybunbury

Janet Clowes £20,001 (including £7,650 special responsibility allowance)

• Crewe West councillor Connor Naismith does not appear in the schedule published by the borough council covering the financial year from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021 as he was elected to the authority in May this year.

The expenses include the basic allowance, the special responsibility allowance, dependants' carers' allowances, travel and subsistence and co-optees' allowances.

You can view the allowances paid on the council's website here.