Sorting out new licences for pubs and clubs across Oxford was the main reason for the large increase in the amount of expenses claimed by city councillors, it has been claimed.

In the financial year to April 2006, city councillors claimed £242,804 for travel and subsistence, special responsibilities and other allowances.

This was £40,000 - 19 per cent - more than the financial year to April, 2005. But Ed Turner, deputy leader of the city council's Labour group, has pointed out that almost £20,000 was claimed by councillors attending a large number of licensing hearings.

He said: "The reason for the large increase in the city councillors' allowance bill in the last municipal year was that additional payments were made to those councillors who sat on the seemingly endless new licensing hearings for pubs and the like.

Mr Turner added that a group of 12 councillors were responsible for attending the licensing hearings.

"One councillor even paid his extra money straight to his employer," he said.

"The meetings always occurred during the working day, and thus meant substantial loss of income to many people.

"I suppose this saved the taxpayer a bit of money in the organisation of the procedure through the magistrates' court, and the extra, which was for one year only, was recommended by the independent panel which looks at these things.

"Under Labour, allowances rose in line with local government workers' pay settlements, and in fact councillors of all parties turned down the more generous recommendations from the independent panel when it did a full review some years ago."

County councillors claimed almost 10 per cent more compared to the year before - £818,491 in the 2005/06 financial year, £74,181 up on the £744,310 claim in 2004/5.

County council leader Keith Mitchell claimed the most in expenses - £35,628.28.