City councillors have a “moral obligation” to not claim travel or fuel expenses if they can afford to, argues the leader of Canterbury’s Labour group.

Cllr Alan Baldock says the £5,300 annual allowance given to elected members should cover the costs of them getting from A to B.

He is among the 70% of councillors who last year did not claim a single penny for travel-related expenditure.

“I prefer not to claim for fuel as we have to be mindful of other people [taxpayers] who have lower incomes,” he said.

“Common sense comes into it all really - there’s a moral obligation not to.

“We get our set allowances and I don’t have any problem taking those. But I feel, in a general sense, that that money goes towards our expenses.

“I rely on councillors to do what is right for them.

“I can fortunately cover my expenses but I know there are others that would find it difficult - they shouldn’t be put off if they can’t afford it.”

The authority’s bill for council allowances and expenses in the last financial year was £300,789.

But just £3,046 - or about 1% - of it was claimed for fuel and travel costs.

Just 12 of the 40 councillors filed such claims, with Cllr Rosemary Doyle (Con) racking up most with £1,233 expenses - a third of the total bill, but largely down to her term as Lord Mayor of Canterbury.

The Chartham and Stone Street representative, who lives seven miles from the city centre, says travel expenses should not put people off standing for election.

“I think the important thing about travel expenses is that no one should be deterred from standing for the council by the cost of petrol to get from their residence to the council offices,” she said.

“If you live in the rural areas, Herne Bay or Whitstable, the cost can be considerable over a year of regular attendance at meetings.

“I live right on the district boundary in Waltham, so Canterbury is quite far away.”

In contrast, current Lord Mayor Cllr Colin Spooner (Con), who lives in Seasalter, is one of the many elected members who chose not to make any fuel expense claims.

“We all live in the district, and going to meetings is part and parcel of the job,” he said.

“I travelled around plenty as a copper without claiming expenses and I don’t see why I should as a councillor.

“I know we all can but it’s never crossed my mind. It is down to the individual though.”

Unsurprisingly, council leader Simon Cook is the top earner in the authority, pocketing £30,522 last year - but just £127.80 in expenses.

He echoed Cllr Doyle’s thoughts on encouraging people from all walks of life to stand for a seat but says there must be a “careful balancing act”.

“Personally, I don’t claim for journeys within the district,” he said.

“For longer distances, when I go to County Hall for example, I do claim.

“It’s great to save money from the public purse, so I highly commend those who don’t.

“There needs to be a careful balancing act. As long as it is sensible and councillors are only claiming when they absolutely have to, then it’s fine.”