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A CALL has been made for councillors' allowances to be cut to save Ceredigion Council money in the next financial year.

But the expenses have been defended by the authority's leader, Cllr Keith Evans.

While the Cabinet discussed service and job cuts across all departments to balance next year's budget and keep to a 5 per cent maximum council tax rise, Cllr Alun Williams suggested members should look at their own expenses.

"Mileage rates are way above the cost of the journey, but I don't claim it," he said. "It would go down well with the people of this county if we would look at the costs claimed by councillors, while we are looking at service cuts," he said.

But council leader, Cllr Keith Evans told him: "We have not looked in detail at the rates but the mileage is prescribed by the Inland Revenue. There are real costs to running a vehicle over and above the cost of petrol, such as maintenance and depreciation."

And Cllr Ray Quant said: "I have done 40,000 miles in the last two years and would not be able to give up my claim to mileage. But I never claim for meals."

Finance director Gwyn Jones said several departments were saving on mileage costs by using video conferencing and car sharing.

Councillors and staff get up to 40p a mile.

8:46am Tuesday 5th February 2008

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