CEREDIGION County Council paid councillors £796,000 in wages and expenses last year, the Cambrian News can reveal.

Figures published in the council’s unaudited annual statement of accounts for 2016/17 show that the wage bill for councillors last year was £767,000, down £1,000 on the previous year.

And councillors’ expenses, which include travel, accommodation and a limited meal allowance, cost the council £29,000, down £11,000 on 2015/16.

But the figures compare very favourably with both Powys County Council, which paid out £1.3m in wages and expenses last year, and Pembrokeshire County Council, which paid out £1.1m to councillors.

Ceredigion County Council said it had a smaller councillor bill than neighbouring councils for several reasons, including the fact the council has fewer councillors, fewer and smaller senior salaries because of its Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales grouping, and that many councillors in Ceredigion don’t claim for travelling.

A Ceredigion County Council spokesperson said: “There are many contributing factors to Ceredigion County Council Members Allowances and Expenses - which are lower than that of neighbouring councils - including the fact the council has fewer councillors, fewer and smaller senior salaries because of its Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) grouping, and many councillors in Ceredigion don’t claim for travelling.”