THE allowances and expenses of Worcester's councillors over the last year have been published - with the bill smashing through the £200,000 mark.

All 35 members of Worcester City Council cost the public purse £205,456 during the 2014/15 financial year - working out at £5,870 for each politician.

The sums are among the lowest in the region, with the city's councillors opting to freeze their rates for the last five years, ignoring independent advice to bump them up.

The last time the payments were increased was in 2010, when they rose six per cent.

Over the last year the basic payment to each city councillor was £3,990, with add-ons for taking special responsibilities like being in the cabinet.

They spent a total of £4,692 on IT costs like internet bills and £2,600 on so-called 'subsistence' cash - which might typically go on travel outside the county for council business, and any bills associated with it.

The bills over the last year are a small drop on 2013/14, when it came to a total of £207,724.

Conservative Councillor Mike Whitehouse, the Deputy Mayor of Worcester, said: "Contrary to popular belief, we don't get involved to get paid and I suppose the clue in that title is the word 'allowances'.

"If you're in it you either get dragged in, or you get into it because there's issues you want to fight for, that's why I got involved because of the Gwillam's Farm development (in Claines).

"The reason why we've turned down rises is because we know there are people out there who are struggling very badly.

"If you're in it for the money, firstly you wouldn't be doing this anyway but secondly, I think you'd lose something."

Green Councillor Neil Laurenson said he spends around 15 hours a week on council business, which works out at around £5 an hour on his basic rate of £3,990.

"It works out at dole money, but then I don't do it for the money anyway," he said.

"You know if you get onto the council, that you get a very small basic allowance."

He added that he does want to see the system revised.

For the last two years an outside body called the Independent Remuneration Panel has suggested the leader's rate go up 26 per cent, the deputy 22 per cent and the basic £3,990 payment should rise five per cent.

But councillors voted to block it on both occasions.

The average councillors' allowance in the West Midlands is £4,393.

* To see a full breakdown for each city councillor, click HERE and open up word document 17a.