THE COUNCIL has apologised for failing to publish details of expenses for years.

The last expenses update to Brighton and Hove City Council's website had been made in April 2018.

The Local Authorities Regulations states a council must publish the information “as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of a year to which the scheme relates”.

After being contacted by The Argus, the council published expenses up until April 2020.

The most recent records show “travel and subsistence” expenses were at their highest levels since 2016 and were more than double the previous year.

A council spokesperson said: “We’d like to apologise for not publishing members’ expenses in recent years.

“This is an oversight that we have taken immediate steps to rectify.

“The 2019 and 2020 figures are now on our website.

“We are working towards having the figures for 2021 on our website by the end of April.”

In the year up until April 2020, councillors claimed a total of £1,295.29 in “travel and subsistence” expenses.

Councillors who claimed more than £100 include Labour’s John Allcock (£100.75), Carmen Appich (£101.35), Anne Pissaridou (£269.90), and Nancy Platts (£352.90), as well as Green councillor Martin Osbourne (£155.05).

The expenses are in addition to the £11,673 basic allowance that all councillors receive. Councillors who hold key roles on committees will also receive a special allowance.

In total, councillors were paid £834,305 in the year up until 2020.

In the year up until April 2019, councillors claimed a total of £560 in “travel and subsistence” expenses.

Conservative Geoffrey Theobald was the only person who claimed more than £100 (£198).

You can find the full list of allowances over the last 17 years here:https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-committees/councillors-allowances