CHESHIRE East councillors representing Macclesfield claimed more than £120,000 during their "shadow" year, it has been revealed.
Figures released by Cheshire East Council show the 21 councillors elected last May to represent Macclesfield’s seven wards received an average of £5,700 each in the runup to officially taking office on April 1.
The 11-month build up to CEC saw a shadow Cheshire East authority in operation, meeting intermittently in preparation for vesting day.
Councillors were paid a £4,387 basic allowance – and in some cases for extra responsibilities such as committees and cabinet meetings – and were able to claim for travel, telephone use and subsistence.
Of the 21 members, 14 councillors at the same time served on Macclesfield Borough Council in its final year, for which they were also permitted to claim.
The biggest Macclesfield ward "shadow" claimant – at £12,969 – was Prestbury and Tytherington councillor Paul Findlow (also leader of the outgoing Cheshire County Council last year).
The lowest were former Macclesfield mayor Thelma Jackson and new councillors Matthew Davies, Darryl Beckford and Marc Asquith.
Below we show how much they received on both counts, with borough council claims in brackets.
Bollington and Disley:
- Harold Davenport – £5,392 (£5,009).
- Matthew Davies – £4,387.
- Diana Thompson – £5,794 (£5,463).
Broken Cross:
- Ainsley Arnold – £9,083 (£9,417).
- John Goddard – £4,839 (£3,897).
- John Narraway – £5,005 (£4,315).
Macclesfield West:
- Darryl Beckford – £4,387.
- Sandy Bentley – £4,755.
- Martin Hardy – £4,431 (£8,663).
Macclesfield Forest:
- Marc Asquith – £4,387.
- Hilda Gaddum – £4,546 (£9,485).
- Lesley Smetham – £6,834.
Poynton:
- Chris Beard – £4,693 (£3,969).
- Howard Murray – £4,685 (£11,369).
- Roger West – £4,631 (£12,360).
Macclesfield Town:
- Stephen Broadhurst – £4,685 (£4,452).
- David Neilson – £5,357 (£3,897).
- Christine Tomlinson – £4,793 (£3,897).
Prestbury & Tytherington:
- Paul Findlow – £12,969.
- Thelma Jackson – £4,387 (£21,475 – while mayor).
- Bill Livesley – £6,436.
In total, 81 Cheshire East councillors were paid more than £400,000 to serve on the shadow authority. This included almost £40,000 claimed for travel expenses, but just £73 on subsistence, and £738 on telephone use.
