COUNCILLORS who sat on each of the three authorities during the local government reorganisation in 2008/09 claimed at least £23,900 during their year in office.

The allowances are set by an independent panel, but during the year when some councillors were elected to three authorities the figures showing how much they claimed are available for the public to view.

Clr Herbert Manley, who covers the Abbey ward, received the largest sum of the councillors from mid Cheshire who represented three councils in a year, claiming £31,574.

For his county council role, Mr Manley, was given £9,298 as his allowance, and claimed £1,042 for travel, but did not claim any subsistence, and didn’t have any special responsibilities.

During his year on the shadow authority he was awarded his basic allowance of £4,387, and a fee of £6,592 for being in charge of the ‘prosperity’ portfolio.

In addition, for being a Vale Royal Borough councillor, Mr Manley was given £3,527 for his basic allowance, and £4,406 for being a member of the council’s executive group.

He also claimed £716 in travel expenses during that year.

Clr Manley did not claim for any subsistence – a category covering accommodation and meals – in any of the three council’s claim sheets.

The second highest claimant was Clr Malcolm Byram, who covers the Marbury ward.

He claimed £30,626 in the 2008/09 council year.

Like Clr Manley, Clr Byram picked up £9,348 for his basic allowance in his role as county councillor.

He was awarded a responsibility allowance of £6,147, and claimed £1,202 in travel and £18.40 for subsistence.

For his role at Vale Royal Borough Council he took home £3,527 in basic allowance, £435 in special responsibility and £178 in travel costs.

As CWAC shadow councillor Mr Byram claimed £9,768, which included £4,167 for a responsibility allowance, £4,387 for basic and £1,213 for travel and subsistence.

Clr Pam Booher, who covers Winsford North and East, claimed £23,939 in allowances in 2008/09.

She claimed £14,748 in her final year as a county councillor.

That included £585 for travel, £74 for subsistence, £9,348 for her basic allowance and £4,740 for her special responsibility allowance.

During her final year as Vale Royal Borough Councillor she was awarded her basic allowance of £3,527, but did not claim in any of the other categories.

As a shadow councillor for CWAC, Clr Booher claimed £5,664, which included £176 for travel and a £1,100 special responsibility allowance.

CWAC has been a fully-fledged council since April 1, and as a result the allowances have gone up.

In 2009/10 all councillors will receive a basic allowance of £11,458.

A spokesperson for Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “Allowances are recommended by an independent remuneration panel, and are paid under Government regulations.

“Councillors worked extremely hard during this period, and were doing three jobs – Cheshire County Council, Vale Royal Borough Council and the shadow council, Cheshire West and Chester.

“Previously the three councillors were working as normal for the county council and Vale Royal Borough Council.”