EAST Renfrewshire’s councillors racked-up more than £12,000 in expenses claims last year.

Reimbursements were given to existing and former elected members for meals, training and travel.

The largest amount, £2880, was attributed to Provost Jim Fletcher, although £2609 was for use of the civic car, which was paid for directly by the local authority to BMW.

Council leader Tony Buchanan claimed £1553 while Conservative Barbara Grant got back £2131, with both councillors having been reimbursed £996 for two COSLA conferences dating back to 2016.

Alan Lafferty, the Convener for Environment was the only other councillor to claim back more than £1000, with £498 paid for training and conferences and £530 for telephone and ICT expenses.

Barbara Grant said: “There were two COSLA conferences that I attended. It’s not just one day, it’s two nights. One of those conferences took place in the previous year but they didn’t have it included in that year’s expenses.

“COSLA has four representatives on the committee and I’m the Conservative member.

“When we go to these conferences, it is seen as part of our duty, so we are not paid extra for attending. We are paid expenses.”

The total amount of expenses listed came to £12,175.

Although attributed to members, East Renfrewshire Council paid companies directly for mobile phones, broadband, taxi costs and attendance at civic functions. That meant elected members didn’t receive any cash back for these expenses.

Councillor Grant was the only member to claim for subsistence and meals totalling £14.

The highest amount for phones and ICT services was Independent David Macdonald, whose total was £718.