Southend Council paid out more than £600,000 to councillors last year – the highest amount since 2011.

The town’s 51 councillors and seven co-opted members - non-elected members who provide specialist advice – received a total of £637,148 in expenses and allowances between April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

It is the highest amount paid to them in seven years, despite budgets getting tighter every year.

The biggest increase was in claims for travel up 58 percent on the previous year, from £1,598.01 to £2,713.34.

The highest amount was paid to the council’s deputy leader, James Courtenay who had a bill of £868.07 - up from just £23.40 the previous year.

Mr Courtenay said his expenses were high due to his past position as portfolio holder for children and learning.

He said: “One of the responsibilities I had was to visit children in secure accommodation. They were located all over the place including places as far away as Newcastle or Manchester.

“None of my travel was first class and often I would have to drive due to where they were located.”

Council leader John Lamb claimed £589.37 in travel expenses and deputy mayor Ann Holland claimed £582.45.

Mr Lamb said: “Councillors nationally are not paid a salary, but they all receive a basic allowance.

“Some councillors such as cabinet members and committees chairs for example receive additional special responsibility allowance due to their position within the council. These councillors also tend to have travel allowances higher than others due to their commitment to represent the council across the country.”

Councillor allowances are reviewed by an independent group, known as the Independent Renumeration Panel.Under recommendations published in a July report, the basic allowance for all elected members in 2017 was £8,847.36.

This will rise to £9,024.26 from May 2018. The council leader is entitled to a special responsibility allowance of 350 percent of the basic allowance and the deputy leader is entitled to 180 percent.

Chairs of committee and scrutiny meetings receive a special allowance ranging from 25 percent to 75 percent.

The largest portion was paid in basic allowances, which came to a total of £449,980.28. All councillors are entitled to the allowance as part of their role and most received a basic payment of £8,847.36, an increase of £87.61 from the previous year.

Special allowances paid to those that have significant additional responsibilities such as cabinet and committee roles were down from the previous year, totalling £182,455.22, against £186,657.62 the previous year.