Aberdeen City Council’s 43 members claimed more than £40,000 in expenses during the last 12 months – with £21,405 reimbursed to just two members.
Depute provost John Reynolds claimed a total of £12,314 for 2015-16 while Barney Crockett, the pensions convener at the town house, claimed £9,091.
Mr Reynolds took £7,706 in travel expenses and £4,288 in subsidence, while £320 was paid on his behalf by the council for IT services and phone bills.
Mr Crockett claimed £4,524 on travel, £4,091 on subsistence and £476 was paid for him for phone bills and IT.
Lord Provost George Adam took a total of £5,487 on top of his £29,271 salary.
However, two members, SNP councillors, John Corall and Gill Samarai, didn’t claim a penny throughout the twelve-month period.
Figures released by the city council showed the 43 members collectively cost the taxpayer £908,945, which was down from £924,006 in 2014-15.
Last night, Mr Crockett, who leads the city’s hydrogen project and takes many foreign trips for that role, defended his expenses.
Speaking from Bornova, Turkey where he was attending an energy summit, he said: “Nearly all of my expenses are on travel which is vital for my role in promoting the city as an energy capital.
“I don’t claim mileage or anything like that and I try and keep claims to a minimum.”
Mr Corall, who claimed nothing for the second year running, said: “I don’t have to claim anything so I don’t.
“I got rid of my council phone and use my own and I make my own travel arrangements.
“As part of the SNP group, we make sure we are very careful with any claims that involve public money like this.”