Councillors expenses

ANY EXPENSES claimed by Topsham councillors Rob Newby and Mark Starling will soon be published on Exeter City Council s website. Following the national scandal surrounding MPs expenses, a spokesperson for the local authority said it had moved swiftly to

ANY EXPENSES claimed by Topsham councillors Rob Newby and Mark Starling will soon be published on Exeter City Council's website.

Following the national scandal surrounding MPs' expenses, a spokesperson for the local authority said it had moved swiftly to demonstrate how little is claimed by its 40 elected members.

Council leader Adrian Fullam said people had a right to know how public money was being spent.

He added: "That is why we will soon have all councillors' expenses available for the public to view on our website - we want to be transparent about them, after all we have nothing to hide!"

Only one expense claim had been received by the authority since April, which was a �23 claim for mileage by Cllr Fullam for attending a meeting in Bideford.

Last year the 40-member city council reimbursed councillors a total of �293.20.

And, Cllr Fullam said the authority had saved �6,190 by 'freezing' allowances paid this financial year and that these details were also available on the website.

He also said that only two councillors had taken up the option of joining the Council's pension scheme and the annual cost of this to the council was �3178.56.