TWO high-ranking local politicians are among the top-earning councillors in Hampshire, according to figures from a pressure group.

Councillor Keith Chapman and Cllr Elaine Still who sit on both Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council, received more than £40,000 in allowances during the last year.

The figures, collated by IsItFair, show they are among the 10 best-paid councillors in the county.

Cllr Chapman, who represents the Calleva and Kingsclere division and Pamber ward, receives the fifth highest allowance. He is the executive member for culture and recreation on the county council. Last year, he received more than £46,000 for both roles.

Meanwhile, Cllr Still, who represents the Loddon division and Chineham ward, is sixth on the list. Cllr Still is Cabinet member for the environment at the borough council, and chair of the county council’s culture and communities and rural affairs committee. She received £41,000 last year.

Christine Melsom, Hampshire-based founder of IsItFair, said; “I think councillors should be setting an example and taking cuts in their allowances this year because of the huge pressures on public finances. Pay freezes are okay but they should take the next step.”

Cllr Chapman responded: “We do not become politicians for the money – we do so as a public service. We are not sat at home with our feet up. It is a very time-consuming role.

“I think it is very hard for the public to judge what they are getting from elected members, but councillors bring in professional and management skills that ends up being good value for money.”

Cllr Still said: “I am given these positions because I am seen as responsible. This is my full-time job and it involves a lot of hours, but I do understand the public’s concern.”

In total, more than £7m of taxpayers’ money was paid to councillors in Hampshire at a time when local services face savage cuts.

The highest-paid councillor in Hampshire is Liberal Democrat Keith House, a full-time politician, who claimed £62,415 as leader of the opposition on the county council, leader of Eastleigh Borough Council and a board member of SEEDA, the regional development agency facing the axe.

Meanwhile, Cllr Ken Thornber claimed £47,717 as leader of Hampshire County Council and a member of the Local Government Association group workforce programme board.

The county council alone spent £1.4m on allowances and expenses last year – £60,464 (4.2 per cent) less than the previous year. Meanwhile, the local authority has cut Sure Start children’s centre budgets by 30 per cent and hiked fees for elderly day care.

Peter Terry, regional organiser for Unison, said: “We don’t believe people providing a public service should be out of pocket but neither should they be profiting from it. I think there is a case for a review of allowances.”

He added: “Councillors should be sharing the pain along with those receiving and delivering services.”

The county council axed 1,200 jobs this year and cut the pay packets of the lowest paid by reducing overtime pay.