THE amount of money councillors in Rossendale receive in allowances has risen by £35,000 this year.

Rossendale Council has revealed that the total cost of councillors’ allowances was £165,297.45, compared to £130,230.24 in 2007.

Councillor William Challinor received the highest amount at £11,529.45.

Former leader Duncan Ruddick, despite leaving his post earlier this year, received the second largest amount at £11,127.35.

This figure is £1,000 more than he received when he was leader of the council.

Council leader Tony Swain received more than £4,000 less than Coun Challinor with an allowance of £7,115.97 Coun Brian Essex received £8,931.67, Coun Gladys Sandiford £8,748.90 and Alyson Barnes at £7,615.49.

The lowest allowance rate this year was Coun Hazel Steen at £882.08.

Councillors defended the increase, saying they were required to spend more time on council duties.

Coun William Challinor said: “Two years ago Rossendale Council received a 25% increase in allowance expenditure. This is mainly down to the amount of time we are now spending as carrying out council duties.

“Compared with many neighbouring councils, our allowances are still very modest.”

Coun Judith Driver, who received £8,164.08 in member’s allowance, believed the rise is down to an increased workload.

She said: “The amount of commitments for councillors have increased dramatically over the last two years.

“The reason for this is simple: central government has given local councils a lot more responsibility.

“If you put it into perspective, what we receive is not an extravagant amount at all, it’s a result of devolution.”

In 2006 the total expenditure in member allowances was £114,187.69.