Brighton and Hove City Council bosses claimed more in cab fares last year than the senior managers in 14 other Sussex local authorities put together.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed around £5,000 was claimed for taxi rides by top officers in the 15 Sussex councils last year.

While most authorities are tightening their belts over taxi use, £3,352.18 - or two thirds - of the total countywide cab bill was claimed by Brighton and Hove City Council's seven most senior employees.

The figure is broadly similar for each of the past five years.

Chief executive Alan McCarthy ran up a £1,341 cab bill in 2005, or £28.53 for each working week.

Keith Taylor, convenor of the city council's Green group, said: "There's clearly an imbalance when our officers are totting up more in cab fares than the rest of their Sussex colleagues put together.

"There is no need for it and we can't afford this waste of money.

"We have an award-winning bus service and there is a free shuttle bus for council employees between council offices."

A figure of £1,153.90 was claimed on behalf of director of cultural services Tony Miller. But Mr Miller, a keen cyclist and rare user of taxis for work, explained that was a total for his whole department rather than him as an individual.

Deputy council leader Sue John said: "It reflects the fact Brighton is a dense urban environment. We encourage our officers to leave their cars at home and we view taxi use as a legitimate form of public transport in the city, bearing in mind congestion.

"In the districts, because it is a wider geographical area, people are more likely to get in their cars and drive."

A council spokeswoman said: "The taxi accounts are used by a number of different council officers on a range of different jobs across the city.

"Senior officers regularly have back-to-back meetings which require them to be at different ends of the city and taking a cab is sometimes necessary for people to do their jobs effectively."

Most councils have introduced new transport policies to reduce the cost to the taxpayer and effect on the environment with some banning taxi use.

West Sussex County Council, whose seven top officers claimed a total of £505.76 on taxis last year over and above their annual lump-sum expenses allowance, is one of many authorities which encourages use of public transport.

It also has a fleet of cars that run on low-cost and low-emission liquid petroleum gas and pool bicycles at County Hall which staff are encouraged to use for short journeys.

East Sussex County Council said most of its £368.34 taxi bill for the five senior executives last year was for travel around London on official engagements.

A spokesman said: "Officers will always use the most appropriate, cost-effective, timely and safe from of transport."