CASH handed out to members of Labour-controlled Hyndburn Council in allowances amounted to almost £50,000 over the past year.

And that added up to the public getting very good value for money, announced Tory group leader Coun Peter Britcliffe.

The biggest single chunk went to housing committee chairman Coun Clifford Westell, who received £2,628, closely followed by council leader George Slynn with £2,269.

The level of payments for 1996/97, showing an average allowance of £1,038, was presented to Hyndburn policy and resources committee.

As well as a basic allowance for all councillors, members collect an allowance for every meeting attended, plus an extra allocation for special responsibilities such as chairing committees and sub committees.

Coun Britcliffe, who picked up £1,773, said he was pleased to see he was not top of this hit parade. But he added: "I do think when it comes to value for money that councillors in Hyndburn are top of the list."

He acknowledged in particular the time put in by committee chairmen, the leader and deputy leader.

Coun Britcliffe said the annual document was always read with great interest by the public, but they did not all realise that for many councillors it was almost a full-time job, especially for the controlling group.

Out of the money councillors had to pay phone bills, in many cases more than £150 per quarter, and spent many uncounted hours sorting problems out.

He also made clear that where a member was liable for income tax, it was paid at the appropriate rate.

Hyndburn councillors are responsible for overseeing an annual budget of £9.5million, and a housing revenue account of £12million.

The average allowance per councillor in Hyndburn in 1996/97 was £589 less than the national average, while the average per leader in Hyndburn is 48 per cent of the national average at £2,021 per year.

Councillors agreed in 1996 that their annual rise in allowance would be pegged to the rate of inflation.

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