More than £800,000 was claimed by councillors in Brighton and Hove during the last financial year.

The city council, which raised council tax bills by 14.5 per cent this year and says it will have to increase them again to plug an £18 million funding gap, revealed details of the pay outs yesterday.

But the level of allowances is set by an independent panel and the figure will drop next year.

All councillors receive a basic £8,000 for their ward work.

They can also claim travel and other expenses.

Those in leading positions receive special responsibility allowances.

These range from £252 for minor roles to £20,000 for council leader Ken Bodfish whose job is full time.

As a result, Coun cillor Bodfish had by far the biggest allowance of £30,000.

More than £18,000 was paid to senior Labour councillor Brian Fitch whose total included £2,000 for his role as secretary general of the International Association of Peace Messenger Cities, Former deputy leader Jackie Lythell received more than £18,000 while opposition leader Brian Oxley claimed exactly £18,000.

Two councillors, Brian Pidgeon and Ken Norman, received slightly less than the standard allowance because they were elected during the year. Allowances are subject to tax.

Liberal Democrats have raised the issue of allowances in the past and group leader Paul Elgood said: "It is good that less money will be paid next time.

"This is because of the reduction from 78 to 54 councillors.

"The money can be redirected to front lineservices.

"The amounts are recommended by an independent panel so it is all slightly out of our hands."

Allowances and expenses paid (rounded down to the nearest pound) were:

Kevin Allen £8,000, Linda Austin £8,000, John Ballance £12,369, Mark Barnard £8,087, Jenny Barnard-Langston £8,099, Simon Battle £12,399.

Gwenda Beishon £8,252, David Bennett £8,000, Jayne Bennett £8,000, Ken Bodfish £30,000, Betsy Brewer £12,621, Vanessa Brown £10,628, Bob Carden £12,034, Simon Charleton £10,873, Rik Child £8,000, Denise £8,087, Steve Collier £8,000, Dawn Davidson £8,000.

Pat Drake £10,535, Ian Duncan £13,556, Andy Durr £10,684, Joyce Edmond-Smith £12,423, Paul Elgood £10,436, Brian Fitch £18,247.

Tehmtan Framroze £13,630, Lynette Gwyn-Jones £8,327, Les Hamilton £10,170, Jacky Harding £8,252, Pat Hawkes £15,280, Jack Hazelgrove £12,707.

Alison Hermitage £8,252, Brian Hunt £8,091, Lynda Hyde £8,171, Heather James £12,882, Sue John £16,252, Susan Joy £8,000.

Ted Kemble £8,000, Gerry Kielty £16,252, Jeane Lepper £10,948, Peter Lewis £9,436, Jackie Lythell £18,967, Mo Marsh £11,025.

Juliet McCaffery £10,873, Anne Meadows £12,911, Vince Meegan £8,000, Mike Middleton £8,252, Gill Mitchell £12,719, Chris Morley £16,236.

Pat Murphy £8,000, John Newington £8,252, Ann Norman £9,487, Ken Norman £7,046, Brian Oxley £18,000, Garry Peltzer Dunn £9,746.

Roy Pennington £13,012, Brian Pidgeon £7,870, Brian Rowe £9,816, Catherine Shelley £8,252, Christine Simpson £15,243, Dee Simson £8,038.

David Smith £9,436, Jean Spray £8,000, Harry Steer £8,000, Pam Stiles £8,170, Keith Taylor £10,436, Carol Theobald £9,531.

Geoffrey Theobald £10,635, Francis Tonks £8,000, Don Turner £15,088, Stephen Wade £8,000, Betty Walshe £8,000, Frieda Warman-Brown £9,260.

John Warmington £8,279, David Watkins £8,000, Geoff Wells £ 9,436, Pete West £8,116, Peter Willows £8,000, Mark Worgan £8,000.