Details have been released of allowances paid to members of City of York Council in the financial year ending March 2002. The council spent £565,000 on allowances last year. The allowances have increased by £86,000 from the previous year.

The council is currently phasing-in the allowance scheme agreed in August 2000, following the initial introduction of the executive-style leadership for the council. The scheme focuses on the responsibilities of individual councillors and includes a basic allowance as well as special responsibility allowances, where applicable.

It was recommended by an independent review panel and will be subject to a further review by the panel over the coming year, in light of the revised executive arrangements recently agreed.

David Atkinson, chief executive, said: "The payment of allowances to our councillors is an important part of ensuring that this authority attracts people to become councillors and it is consistent with the government's drive to improve the quality of councillors, ensuring they represent the communities they live in.

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