PTN 28 August 2026

Councillors pocket £1.2m as council battles financial crisis – see who claimed the most and who claimed nothing

Westmorland and Furness councillors received more than £1.2 million from taxpayers last year, with thousands of pounds also claimed in expenses by some elected members.

Figures published by Westmorland and Furness Council show that its councillors received £1,213,300.34 in total payments during 2025/26.

That included £912,734.30 in basic allowances, £267,166.06 in Special Responsibility Allowances and £33,399.98 in expenses.

The figures come as the council faces a major financial challenge, with senior officers warning that the authority needs to find around £40 million in savings and efficiencies over the next three years.

But while the council is looking for savings across its services, the latest figures show how much was paid to its elected members during the same financial year.

And there are some striking differences between councillor's expenses claims.

The biggest expenses claimant was Cllr J Brook, who recorded £4,248.68 in expenses during the year.

Second was Cllr H Carrick, with £3,125.53, followed by Cllr J Derbyshire, who claimed £3,061.65.

The three councillors together claimed £10,435.86 in expenses.

The top ten were:

Councillor	Ward	Expenses
J Brook	Kendal South	£4,248.68
H Carrick	Hesket and Lazonby	£3,125.53
J Derbyshire	Greystoke and Ullswater	£3,061.65
J Murray	Kirkby Stephen and Tebay	£1,769.59
J Battye	Levens and Crooklands	£1,640.20
G Simpkins	Appleby and Brough	£1,483.60
P Bell	Penrith North	£1,355.35
H Irving	Ulverston	£1,322.04
V Taylor	Penrith South	£1,281.45
A Waite	Kirkby Stephen and Tebay	£1,250.86

Expenses are separate from councillors' allowances and are claimed in connection with their council duties such as travel, food and accommodation.

When allowances and expenses are combined, Cllr J Brook Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council was also the highest-paid councillor in the published figures.

Cllr J Brook received £47,089.28 in total.

That was made up of £14,280 in basic allowance, £28,560.60 in Special Responsibility Allowance and £4,248.68 in expenses.

Cllr A Jarvis received £32,432.53, including £1,016.17 in expenses.

Cllr J Derbyshire received £31,622.01, including £3,061.65 in expenses.

Cllr J Murray received £30,329.95, including £1,769.59 in expenses, while Cllr J Battye received £30,200.56, including £1,640.20 in expenses.

Cllr P Bell, representing Penrith North, received £29,915.71 in total.

The difference in total payments is largely down to Special Responsibility Allowances paid to councillors who hold additional positions.

Penrith councillors – how much did yours receive?

The published figures show four councillors covering Penrith wards.

Cllr P Bell – Penrith North

Basic allowance: £14,280.00
Special Responsibility Allowance: £14,280.36
Expenses: £1,355.35
Total: £29,915.71

Cllr M Rudhall – Penrith North

Basic allowance: £14,280.00
Special Responsibility Allowance: £4,423.64
Expenses: £300.47
Total: £19,004.11

Cllr M Eyles – Penrith South

Basic allowance: £14,280.00
Special Responsibility Allowance: £0
Expenses: £231.30
Total: £14,511.30

Former Cllr V Taylor – Penrith South (Resigned January 2026)

Basic allowance: £11,900.00
Special Responsibility Allowance: £2,618.07
Expenses: £1,281.45
Total: £15,799.52

That means the four Penrith ward councillors accounted for a combined £79,230.64 in payments during the financial year 2025/26.

While some Westmorland and Furness councillors claimed thousands of pounds in expenses, others recorded no expenses at all.

Among those with a £0.00 expenses figure were Cllrs C Atkinson, B Cooper, D Edwards, N Phillips, R Worthington, J Filmore, D Taylor, T Assouad, T Biggins, A Burns, J Drake, K Hamilton, M Hanley, A Husband, W McEwan, J Murphy, G Archibald, L Baker, S Bavin, J Boak, J Cornthwaite, P Dixon, S Evans, E Hennessy, H Hodgson, A Hull, H Ladhams, M Severn and S Pender.

Some of those councillors nevertheless received additional Special Responsibility Allowances.

For example, Cllr G Archibald received £28,560.36 in allowances but claimed no expenses.

Cllr A Husband received £21,420.12 in allowances with no expenses recorded.

Cllr A Jarvis cabinet member for finance, meanwhile, received the second highest total allowance figure after from Cllr J Brook, at £31,416.36, and claimed £1,016.17 in expenses.

The figures for every councillor, showing their basic allowance, Special Responsibility Allowance, total allowances, expenses and total payments are: