Councillors cost taxpayers more than three-quarters of a million pounds last year.

Brighton and Hove's 54 city councillors claimed £767,976 in allowances and expenses in 2004-5.

This is £57,000 less than three years ago. Before the number of councillors was slashed from 78, the total spent was £824,000.

Last year's basic allowance was £10,283 but most topped this up with payments for travel expenses and special responsibilities such as chairing committees.

A council spokesman said: "Many councillors find their duties dominating their lives. Anyone becoming a councillor as a way of making money would possibly find bar work offering better hourly rates."

Most expensive was council leader Ken Bodfish, who claimed £36,717.

On top of his basic allowance, the Labour councillor received £26,434 for his role in leading the council.

Coun Bodfish, who is retired, said he spent 55 hours a week on council work.

He said: "The hours are put in on behalf of the city are heavy but I choose to do it."

In second place was his deputy, Sue John, who claimed a total of £26,314.

Coun John, who spent about 35 hours a week on council work, said her post was the equivalent of a non-executive director responsible for an annual turnover of half a billion pounds.

She said: "We need to encourage more women and people with families to become councillors and I don't see how we do that without some sort of recompense."

In third place was Labour councillor Brian Fitch who claimed £23,092 in allowances and expenses.

His travel and subsistence included a budget of £2,000 for his work for the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities.

Fourth was Garry Peltzer Dunn, leader of the Conservative opposition group, who received £12,688 on top of his basic, which with a claim of £82 for travel and subsistence produced a total of £23,054.

He has semi-retired from his job as a surveyor to find more time.

Coun Simon Burgess, whose £21,384 allowance pushed him into fifth place, said: "My role of dealing with finance is basically a full-time job.

"The danger is that if we were paid any less, then councillors would only be those who are retired or unemployed."