Title: The Allowances of Lincolnshire Council Members: A Detailed Breakdown
New information has been brought to light regarding the allowances claimed by our local representatives in Lincolnshire. This data, which covers the financial year from April 2023 to March 2024, has sparked keen interest among individuals and groups trying to understand public spending.
Councillor Ashton TR, representing the Conservative party, claimed a considerable total of £24,925.50, with a large £9,607.95 of that attributed to special responsibility allowances. In comparison, Councillor Allan MG, also of the Conservative party, received £16,436, the majority of which came from basic allowances. This figure also included minimal travel expenses amounting to £51.30. Treading lightly is Councillor Ashleigh-Morris P with a less noticeable claim of £13,218.80.
Councillor Austin A, who is linked to the South Holland Independents, capped the total claim at £14,556.70. However, it is worth noting the significant sum of £872.55 marked for travel expenses, suggesting an active presence in constituent interactions.
A comparison with previous years shows an upward trend in total amounts claimed by some members. This could be due to a heavier workload or expanded responsibilities. However, these increases require our attention as local residents and prompt us to inquire about transparency and accountability.
As residents of Lincolnshire, public budget considerations are important to us. Noting the fluctuations in these figures serves as a timely reminder of the channels through which our taxpayer pounds are funneled, particularly the portion of these funds directed towards travel expenses.
In light of these figures, we encourage you to voice your opinions. Do you think the allowance claims are warranted, or do you feel there could be room for better financial control? Your views can make a difference. After all, we are one community, and this is our county council.
Information obtained from open datasets provided by the Lincolnshire County Council. Data source accessible [here](https://lincolnshire.ckan.io/dataset/3b17b920-642a-4189-b1d9-18e420be9ef4/resource/1de09795-736e-47f6-baa6-a3bb20f84565/download/membersallowances.csv).
