SIX months into the financial year, Wiltshire Council has yet to publish details of the expenses and allowances claimed by members last year.

The figures will show the impact of controversial increases in allowances voted through last November and backdated to May.

An independent councillor says he has been trying to get hold of the information for more than two months.

Terry Chivers even put in a Freedom of Information request with no success.

Now he and fellow independent Jeff Osborn are calling for a new rule requiring the figures to be put online within a month of each financial year’s end.

Their proposal will be debated at the council’s meeting on October 15.

Cllr Chivers said: “When I asked for a list of members’ expenses I was told ‘We haven’t actually got them’. That was amazing.

“So I put in a Freedom of Information request but it was denied.

“Apparently if you say you are intending to put information online as quickly as is practicable, you can refuse an FoI request.”

Cllr Osborn said: “The public have a right to know just how much their councillors are costing them.”

Many people were angered by the increase in allowances, which came just weeks after 252 council staff were made redundant.

A protest petition gathered more than 2,600 signatures, while the Mayor of Tidworth, Christopher Franklin, was so disgusted he left the Conservative party.

There was a basic rise of one per cent for all councillors, with at least 22 per cent for cabinet members and almost 40 per cent for leader Jane Scott.

She subsequently decided not to take it, while cabinet member Laura Mayes took only half her increase.

Tidworth’s councillor Mark Connolly gave his to charity.

A Wiltshire spokesman said: “We are continuing to process information relating to our members’ allowances and expenses.

“We are committed to being open and transparent and will make this information available as soon as possible.”