Woah, Anon! "you are the very reason" ! slightly over the top reaction there, Anon.

I posted the link because that was the page I was looking at at the time. The link was supposed to be helpful to people who had never heard of the site. Even though this story is about Cumbria County Council, I don't think it unreasonable to post a more generalised response. I was hoping people might use the link and look around the whole site, not just stay put on that one page. And, yes, they have been publishing information on allowance spending for a long time, however, this is often not very detailed.

Don't be so angry, Anon. It's only the local News and Star.

A A Smith. This article is about cumbria county council, yet you point to a link about carlisle city council.

You are the very reason why a two tier system doesnt work, you seem to be entirely unable to rationalise in your mind that two different councils exist that are autonomous of each other.

All councillors allowances of all councils for many years have been publically published. Long before the freedom of information act.

If you are interested in details of your councillors spending, or indeed any spending, or other information....then ask them!

Use the website Whatdotheyknow to ask questions of the people elected by and paid for by you! It is up to us to take charge of the situation and be aware of the powers we have.

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/body/carlisle_city_council

I will re-iterate what Michael Owen said. 84 Councillors !!! Why do we have so many? At an average of £12678 each (before or after tax? Can we really be sure we get value for money from them? I think we should be looking at a cull on councillors before a cull on Barnacle geese!

How do these people sleep at night doing these non-jobs? What have we to show for £1m, other than some people who think very highly of themselves having a catch up with their pals at our expense.

This is a disgrace. I expect my councillors to be fully competent qualified professionals, devote their energies full-time to their work and not get paid a penny for it. Anything else is the sound of a gravy train grinding along a gold-plated trough.

I think its disgraceful. Why the need for all the County and Borough Councillors Is beyond me. It is a well known fact that a big percentage of these councillors do nothing whatsoever in contributing to the well being of the people they represent. A nice wage earner without the committment required. It is time that vast changes were made. I wonder how many would do the work voluntarily. I don't think so. The money would be better spent on the people of Cumbria especially the Elderly.

Dave, I don't believe you. The inland revenue has set table for mileage reimbursement. The inland revenue doesn't allow people to make a profit out if these things.

The pence per mile includes more than pure fuel costs, it accounts for depreciation, insurance, road tax and maintainanace.

If you have an old banger than great you will do well, but a modern car you won't end up in profit.

If you are being paid fuel only you are getting cheated.

The problem with expenses in the council is they get paid a certain amount per mile therfore making a profit,in my line of work when I go on a course or seminar,I have to travel in my own time and only reimbersed the amount of fuel I use not 40 p per mile or whatever the going rate is

Evil Mcbad, as a constant pontificator, will you give up some of your unemployment benefit, you know, being compassionate and all?