COUNCILLORS scoffed their way through £16,000 of free dinners at County Hall last year.

Of the 79 councillors, 69 took advantage of the grub paid for by taxpayers.

The Taxpayers’ Alliance labelled the bill, and their appetites, “simply extraordinary”.

Controversial highways boss Rodney Bass spent the most at £808.37, followed by fellow cabinet member Ray Gooding and leader David Finch.

Councillors at Essex County Council are eligible for threecourse meals in the restaurant whenever they attend on official business, regardless of how long they are there for.

One of the ten who didn’t claim a penny, Kerry Smith, said: “I think it is a service from a different era.

“If councillors are there all day, I can understand provision of food, but why has it got to be a cooked meal?

“It should only be available for councillors there all day.”

Councillors receive a basic allowance of £11,499.96.

Rodney Bass received a total of £46,559.09 for his mileage, parking and a special responsibility allowance.

But the authority’s top payout went to leader David Finch, who received £69,249.57. He took £654.40 for meals last year.

Taxpayers’ Alliance chief executive Jonathan Isaby said: “There will always be certain times when providing a meal is the right thing to do, but this bill is simply extraordinary and taxpayers will be furious.

“We’re trying to make savings right across government to protect frontline services, so this kind of spending is unacceptable.”

The amount being claimed has fallen in recent years.

A spokesman for Essex County Council defended the cost and the menu.

He said: “An example of the typical menu available to a councillor includes traditional dishes, such as soup, fish and chips and bread and butter pudding.”