BOROUGH councillors were paid a total of £128,000 in allowances last year.
The 47 members are entitled to payments for carrying out their duties, including travel expenses.
The total for 2004/05 includes payments to several councillors who have since joined or left the authority.
New councillors Peter Cooper, Janice Farquharson, Kay Loch and John Wilson, who all joined in 2004, claimed £7,808.23 between them.
Meanwhile, a total of £2,356.7 was claimed by former councillors Keith Butcher, Dave Garroch, Abdul Jilani and Christine Kevan, who all left last year.
Nearly all the councillors claimed their allotted allowances, except for council and Labour group leader Fred Venables, who claimed nothing. His deputy Reg Chrimes claimed £837.15 in travel fares but nothing else.
Borough councillors are entitled to claim a flat-rate basic allowance of £2,700 per year. This has risen by £100 for this present financial year.
In addition, they can claim for expenses incurred in carrying out their duties, such as travelling.
The leader of the council and chairman of major committees can also claim responsibility allowances of £5,400 and £2,700 respectively.
Cllr Venables (Lab, Westminster) said: 'The allowance offered to councillors is intended to recognise the dedicated service of members to the community and to attract others, from diverse backgrounds, to council service.
'Claiming the available allowance is optional, and a number of councillors choose not to claim any expenses at all.'
