£193,000 bill for councillors' expenses

Expenses claims ranged from just 19 to 7432.

The claims of the 14 representatives for Cumbernauld and Kilsyth ranged from 766 to 5800.

One employee, who asked not to be named, thinks the whole system is unfair.

She said: "Council workers are the ones who actually deliver the services and we are facing pay freezes and possible job cuts.

"Then you've got councillors doing what's really a part-time job, getting paid a handsome salary for it and given access to a bottomless pit of money to use for expenses. If we claimed thousands of pounds in expenses we would be investigated and maybe disciplined."

There are 70 councillors on North Lanarkshire Council.

Councillors are paid a basic salary of 16,186, with the exception of those holding positions as conveners, who can earn 26,302.

The total amount paid out in expenses to councillors for 2009/10 was 193,045, covering items such as travel, IT and phone bills.

North Lanarkshire Council declined to comment.

A full list of councillors' expenses and salaries is available on the local authority's website at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk

According to the list, here's what our local councillors claimed.

Kilsyth

M. Griffin - 3026

J. Jones - 3578

D. Key - 1468

Cumbernauld North

B. Chadha - 2950

B. McCulloch - 3369

G. Murray - 3995

A. O'Brien - 5800

Cumbernauld South

D. Carrigan - 766

W. Goldie - 1972

W. Homer - 3735

G. McElroy - 2249

Abronhill, Kildrum, The Village

S. Grant - 3490

E. Irvine - 2806

T. Johnston - 1892