Councillors’ allowances: why the big disparities?

• WITH all this talk in the mainstream media about MP’s expenses, I noticed in Camden Council’s Your Camden publication on page 25 details of Camden councillors’ allowances.
These totalled £794,163.17 for 56 persons for 2008-09.
The expenses collected by some of our elected ward councillors and representatives which proved interesting and puzzling.
What I did notice were the big differences between certain individuals.
For example: the Lib Dem leader of the council Keith Moffitt has claimed £38,355.42 whereas my own ward New Labour councillor Penny Abraham claimed £9,711.96 for the year April 2008-March 2009.
There were 14 people in total out of the total 56 who had claimed over £20,000 for the year. Why these differences?
I also wonder how some of the big “salary” amounts are justified. Do some members have other jobs, hence they claim less?
It may be “allowed” and “in order” but so were the MPs’ allowances but they were considered “incorrect” by the public and political elite with people paying back large and small sums and even MPs resigning.
Being a councillor used to be considered an honour by serving the local community.
Seems to me now, for some, it is a job and not too badly paid by us council tax payers in these tough economic times.
Maybe when I am a pensioner next year and have to live on £95 a week I could apply for the post.
It pays better than being a pensioner.
CLEM ALFORD
Tavistock Place, WC1