WEST Oxfordshire councillors have been urged to cut their fuel expense claims.

Liberal Democrats say that reducing mileage allowances would save West Oxfordshire District Council £2,000 a year.

Under the current rules, members whose car have engines over 1,199cc receive a 65p per mile allowance. Those running cars with 1,000cc to 1,199cc engines receive 52.2p per mile while those engines of less than 1,000cc receive 46.9p.

Lib Dem deputy leader Julian Cooper said: “In this day and age we need to start taking tangible steps to encourage the use of smaller vehicles.”

The matter will be discussed by the council later this month, after it has been considered by the council’s independent renumeration panel.

Council leader Barry Norton said the proposal had “merits” but it needed further examination. He said the current rates were nationally agreed.

The council decided not to change other allowances, in line with a recommendation from the panel.

Basic members’ allowance will stay at £4,350 a year. Mr Norton will get £23,925 and cabinet members £15,225.