Dick Walsh, leader of Argyll and Bute Council, was paid nearly £45,000 in salary and expenses last year, new figures have revealed.
Cllr Walsh, who lives in Dunoon, claimed a total of £44,764.65 from April 1 2015 to March 31 this year, £2,700 more than Robin Currie of Islay, who was the highest claimant the previous year.
Earlier this year the authority announced that jobs would be cut as it saved £10m in its budget, with services ranging from wheelie bin collection to school libraries being affected; soon afterwards it appointed a new chief executive at a salary of £118,000.
The council this week defended the payments, saying Cllr Walsh represented the area ‘at local, regional and national levels.’
A spokesperson added: “He is an active participant in COSLA, and represents Argyll and Bute at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands – a partnership of Highlands and islands councils and the Scottish Government.
“He is also a member of a number of national/strategic agencies – for example, the Highlands and Islands European Partnership – which address some of the key issues and challenges which Argyll and Bute faces.
“Cllr Walsh also sits on various strategic/central committees as well as the area committee and community planning group for the local ward he represents.
“While representing Argyll and Bute at these local, national and some regional locations can incur travel costs, like all elected members and council officers he takes steps to reduce these expenses as much as he can, participating in several meetings by telephone or video conferencing when attendance in person is not mandatory for councillors or official representatives.”
For details of all councillors’ payments in recent years click here.
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