An Arbroath councillor has donated all his travel expenses to charity, stating he didn’t feel “comfortable” keeping the money at a time the council is cutting back on services.
Two years ago Arbroath West and Letham councillor Ewan Smith didn’t claim any travel expenses, but last year he took the decision to claim the expenses then give the amount away to his choice of organisations.
He feels that stopping councillors claiming travel expenses is something that should be considered.
Mr Smith said: “I don’t feel comfortable claiming travel expenses at a time when there is so much austerity and so many cuts being made.
“I feel it’s an area that we could look at cutting – I know that will be controversial among my fellow councillors.
“If we are asking members of the public to make concessions and to start paying for the collection of green bins and accept cuts to services, I think we as councillors need to look at ourselves as well and think what savings we can make.
I don’t feel comfortable claiming travel expenses at a time when there is so much austerity and so many cuts being made.
“Most people I know don’t get travelling expenses to go to their place of work. It’s an area I’ve never felt comfortable claiming for.”
Mr Smith’s total travel expenses for the 2015/16 year were £480. He has given £200 to the Arbroath Fireworks Project and £375 to the Café Project in Arbroath.
He said: “Karen Cuthill and Davina Shepherd and the rest of the firework committee showed incredible energy and determination to ensure we had another firework display last year.
“The display last year was fantastic and I’m looking forward to another great display this year.
“The Café Project is a charity that does great things. It’s a safe haven for youngsters to come to an environment that’s free of alcohol and drugs.
“I can’t speak highly enough of its darts academy and the work that Alan Soutar does. It helps the youngsters’ numeracy skills in a social environment and is also producing some very talented players which are putting Arbroath on the map.”
Mr Soutar, who runs the darts academy at the Café Project, thanked Ewan for the donation and said it would go towards the refurbishment and building improvement works at the centre.
Expenses (click image for full view)
More than £620,000 was paid to councillors in the last financial year.
A total of £55,000 in expenses was claimed by the county’s 29 councillors, a reduction from £64,000 last year. Arbroath West and Letham councillor David Lumgair claimed no expenses.
The basic wage for being a councillor rose from £16,560 to £16,726 in the last financial year. Conveners were paid £22,449.
Provost Helen Oswald was paid £25,090 and the council leader Iain Gaul received remuneration of £33,454.
Councillors Martyn Geddes (32 meetings), Alex King (52 meetings) and Sheena Welsh (24 meetings) had perfect attendance at their council meetings.
