COUNCILLORS cost taxpayers in Derby nearly £790,000 in allowances and mileage claims in the past year.

Figures for 2008-09 have been released showing how much each city councillor claimed in travel expenses and how much they were paid for their work.

And, after all eyes were on MPs like Margaret Beckett, who claimed more than £1,300 a year for a gardener, councillors said their expense claims withstood scrutiny.

Councillors are allowed to claim for miles they travel in their own cars to attend council meetings and other council-related work, such as holding ward surgeries.

The mileage rate depends on the size of the car's engine and ranges from 46.9 per mile to 58.7p.

Bus, rail and taxi fares can also be claimed.

One of the higher mileage claims came from Sara Bolton.

The Labour councillor for Chaddesden ward claimed £2,906.08 in mileage.

In previous years, when she was cabinet member for children's services, she said the high mileage was because she was a hard-working councillor and had to attend various schools meetings which often were in Matlock.

But following the May 2008 election when Labour lost control of Derby City Council, her post was taken up by Liberal Democrat Les Allen.

Yet during 2008-09 her mileage claim was higher than when she was a cabinet member in 2007-08 and claimed £2,196.20.

She said: "I do a lot of work in the ward. I travel from home to Chaddesden and on occasions I have to go to Matlock for meetings in my role in overview and scrutiny."

She said the round trip between her Littleover home and her ward was 15 miles.

Each of the councillors received a basic allowance of £9,848.16, up from the previous year's of £9,612.60. Councillors have agreed they should not get a rise in that allowance until the country's economic situation improves.

Those councillors with special responsibilities, such as being leader or in charge of an area such as adult services, get extra.

And in addition, the mayor and deputy mayor get an allowance, known as the "mayor's purse", to cover costs incurred during their work, such as purchasing raffle tickets at events and other donations made as mayor. During the period covered Councillor Barbara Jackson was mayor and Sean Marshall her deputy.

Ms Jackson, who covers Boulton ward, said: "I don't claim any other expenses on top of my allowance as a councillor. I am of the view that we get that allowance and that should be enough so I don't claim for mileage."

There are 51 councillors representing the city but the expenses covered the period from March 2008 to April 2009, during which time there was an election in which some new councillors joined the council, meaning the claims are for 59 councillors.

Councillor Evonne Williams claimed £1,619.25 to cover child care for her two-year-old daughter, Hannah, when she was attending council meetings in the day and was unable to get family members to babysit for her.

Mrs Williams, who is also a non-executive director at Derby City Primary Care Trust, said she hoped more young mothers would be encouraged to move into politics knowing such help was available.

"When we say to women to come and get involved in local politics it is good to say this allowance is available because it can be so difficult to juggle everything," she said.

"You don't want to be unprofessional and have to take your baby into a meeting with you.

"There are very strict criteria for claiming the allowance; it has to be for when you were at certain, approved council meetings and you have to pay for child care and then claim it back through receipts."