NEARLY £140,000 of expenses were awarded to Argyll and Bute Councillors in the 2017/18 financial year, figures have revealed.

Council leader Aileen Morton claimed the most expenses of any Helensburgh and Lomond councillor at a total of £5,826.

These included £1,066 for accommodation and £621 for telephone and ICT expenses on council business.

David Kinniburgh claimed £3,221 in expenses with Richard Trail being given £3,168 and George Freeman £3,067.

The lowest-claiming councillor in any of the Helensburgh and Lomond wards was Lorna Douglas, who was elected for the SNP in Helensburgh Central last year, and who received £962.

In total, the 10 currently-serving Helensburgh and Lomond councillors claimed more than £25,000 between them.

The vast majority of their claims were made for mileage or use of a council car, although Cllr Freeman’s figure includes a £548 claim for telephone and ICT expenses.

The biggest claimant across the entire authority was Councillor Robin Currie, of the Kintyre and the Islands ward, who claimed back £18,167.

That figure included £9,653 for accommodation, with the councillor based on Islay and regularly having to travel far afield in his role as policy lead for housing, communities and Gaelic and a member of the authority’s planning committee.

Councillor Mary Jean Devon, of the Oban South and the Isles ward, was awarded £11,555. As well as claiming £4,838 for use of a council car, Councillor Devon, who lives on the Isle of Mull, was also reimbursed £4,000 for other travel expenses including ferry fares.

Councillor Andrew Vennard, of the Oban North and Lorn ward, had the lowest claim of any currently-serving councillor, only being awarded £101, all of which was for telephone and ICT expenses.

The figures – available on the council’s website – are gross amounts, and are then subject to tax and national insurance deductions, while broadband and phone costs are paid directly by the authority on councillors’ behalf.