RIVAL political leaders have locked horns over the amounts they were paid between the local elections and the official change of council control in York.

The May 5 poll saw Labour claim command of City of York Council, but the party did not formally take over until the authority’s annual general meeting three weeks later.

And council leader James Alexander – attacked by opposition parties last month for asking for a £200 advance on his wages after a Facebook admission that he had “spent his last tenner” – has criticised his Liberal Democrat counterpart Carol Runciman over the special responsibility allowance she received during this time.

Although the Lib Dems were ousted at the election, with then-leader Andrew Waller losing his seat, Coun Runciman was acting council leader between the poll and the annual meeting. Coun Alexander claimed she should not have been paid £216.36 in allowances during this period because of Labour’s imminent takeover.

But Coun Runciman said while she did not expect the one-off payment, she was entitled to it under council rules as the authority needed a working leader during the hiatus.

Coun Alexander said: “There was confusion over the wages of all group leaders after the election result, as change in control did not take effect until three weeks later.

“In this period, I was the only group leader who received what I was constitutionally allowed. Despite all the others taking more, I am not going to attack them for their personal finances as they have attacked me.

“In the final months of the Liberal Democrat administration, they introduced a system where they would remain in control, with full pay and responsibility, for three weeks after the election irrespective of the result. Labour tried to stop this happening, but it meant we couldn’t do anything for three weeks after the election result despite the mandate to do so.”

Coun Runciman said: “I was told I would receive this money without being consulted on it – I did not know it was coming and I was not expecting it.

“My assumption was that this was customary and I did not question it. There has to be a handover period in these situations, with somebody holding the post of leader, and during this three-week period I was in contact with Coun Alexander, other council members and officers, so I was there and I was working.”