By Sian Hewitt

sian.hewitt@essnmedia.co.uk

FIGURES have been released showing how much Crawley's county councillors have been claiming in expenses.

Released last week, they reveal who claimed for laptops, BlackBerry phones, broadband and travel costs in the 2009/10 financial year.

West Sussex County Council insists the items are not perks but essential tools enabling them to carry out their jobs.

However, residents may be left wondering why some councillors needed to claim far more than others.

Brenda Smith, Labour councillor for Langley Green and West Green, took home the most and was the only Crawley member to make claims in every category.

Talking about the technology claims, she said: "I have these items for one reason, and one reason only, to pick up my work e-mails.

"The county council says that we are not to use our county council e-mail accounts on our own personal computers.

"It is a secure site so we cannot access them anyway.

"The intranet, which gives a whole host of information which is needed as a councillor, is also only accessible this way on the council BlackBerry phones and laptops.

"This is all I use them for. I do have my own personal phone and computer which I use for anything not related to my role as a councillor."

Cllr Smith said that as leader of the Labour party on the council she had to use the equipment more often than others.

She added: "I, in fact, would be happy to give them all back.

"I do not need them apart from for work but, unfortunately, I cannot give them back in my role."

There were some big differences in some of the claims.

Richard Burrett, Conservative councillor for Pound Hill and Worth, claimed £2,059 in travel expenses.

But Labour's councillor for Bewbush and Ifield West, Chris Oxlade, only claimed £172.

And while Cllr Smith claimed £950 in laptop costs other councillors did not claim a penny.

A council spokesman insisted that spending taxpayers' money on such items was necessary.

He said: "The county council does not consider that it provides its members with perks.

"It provides IT equipment (either a desktop PC or a laptop) as an essential tool to assist members in carrying out their duties.

"BlackBerry phones are issued on request to members with special responsibilities, such as cabinet members and committee chairmen to assist them in their duties and to ensure that they can be contacted at all times.

"The deputy leader considers each member request for BlackBerry phones as they can be allocated to other members for a good reason, such as when they are working away from home and can pick up messages during breaks.

"When a member ceases to be a county councillor their equipment is retrieved and reused."