THE bill for Warrington's 57 councillors will top £600,000 for the first time.

Meeting on Monday night, councillors voted to agree a 10 per cent increase in their allowances over the next year.

The rises, agreed by an independent panel, will see the basic bill every councillor can claim rise from £6,524 a year to £7,177.

The latest rise increase is the last in a package suggested three years ago by an independent panel after it was found that councillors in Warrington were eligible to smaller expenses than many neighbours.

Speaking at the meeting, Clr Joyce said the allowances were legitimate.

He added: "There are members putting a lot of time in in the evenings because they work during the day.

"They have full time jobs and are putting

themselves out during the evening, so I would like to ask that the panel look at this when recommending other payments.

"It is about quality of life and they are putting a lot of time in.

"I would like to thank those members involved in licensing in particular, because their work has been above and beyond the call of duty.

"I would like to ask the panel to look at the workloads of the licensing committee."

As well as their basic allowance, council leader John Joyce can now claim an extra £18,695 a year, taking his total to more than £25,000, deputy leader Clr Paul Ross can pick up an extra £13,242 while Mayor, Clr Hans Mundry, is entitled to an extra £14,954. Mayoress Clr Karen Mundry can receive an extra £3,636.

Opposition leaders Clr Ian Marks (LD) and Clr Keith Bland (CON) can now claim an extra £6,619 each.

l What do you think of the increase in expenses? E-mail your views to: newsdesk@guardiangrp.co.uk