by political editor Paul Francis

County councillors claimed more than £1.7million in allowances for their work last year, figures have revealed.

Kent County Council has decided to release the data earlier than scheduled in response to the ongoing debate over MPs' allowances. The figures were not due to be published until two days after the county council election on June 4.

The statistics show KCC's 84 county councillors between them claimed £1.76million in 2008-2009, a figure in line with previous years.

Each member is entitled to £12,000 as a basic allowance and that accounted for the biggest slice of the money at £998,193. A further £605,206 went to councillors with special responsibilities, such as the leader and members of the cabinet, who each receive £26,649.

KCC leader Cllr Paul Carter received the highest sum at £54,450, consisting of £12,000 in basic allowance and £41,000 for being leader. He also claimed £3,098 in mileage.

Labour opposition leader Cllr Mike Eddy received a total of £42,895, made up of £12,000 basic allowance and £20,499 for being official oppostion leader. He claimed £5,939 in mileage but lives in Deal.

Cllr Trudy Dean, the Liberal Demcorat leader, received £12,000 in basis allowance and is recorded as not having taken any special responsibility allowance. She claimed £133 in mileage.

Councillors again showed they prefer travelling by car on official business, claiming a total of £143,949 for mileage but only £11,455 for public transport.

The "greenest" councillor on that measure was Cllr Graham Gibbens, who represents Canterbury. He claimed £1,868 for public transport but still claimed £2,735 for mileage.

• See full details of the expenses claimed on the KCC website >>>