NEARLY £3m of taxpayers' money was spent by council bosses in Greater Manchester on mobile phones for councillors and staff last year.

The M.E.N. can reveal the full extent of their bills today using figures obtained from the region's 10 local authorities under the Freedom of Information Act.

Every council in the region spent at least £154,000 on the mobile phone calls and handsets of more than 25,900 councillors and staff.

Taxpayers in Manchester faced the largest bill, with the council spending more than £736,000, which included more than £539,000 on voice calls and more than £141,000 on data sticks and mobile internet services including Blackberrys.

One council, Oldham, paid £810,973 to its mobile phone supplier. But £539,000 of this was a one-off grant for a `Computers for Pupils' project - to provide computers and broadband for disadvantaged children.

It said £271,973 was spent on phones held by staff. Fourteen of its councillors had Blackberry mobiles.

Bolton council's £354,399 bill included more than £4,900 on phone repairs and more than £1,600 on accessories.

Salford council said it had claimed back around £14,500 of its £307,000 bill from staff who had made personal calls.

News of the figures has led to calls for town hall bosses to impose tighter controls on mobile phone use and to ensure they seek `value for money' from mobile phone companies.

Councils' responses

All 10 authorities have defended mobile phones as a `necessary tool' for helping officers and councillors communicate..

Coun Bernard Priest, from Manchester council, said `effective communications' were `critical' to the way services were delivered. He said the council `regularly reviews' the cost of mobile phones and has guidelines to prevent misuse.

Bolton council said mobiles were a `necessary tool' for a `large number' ofstaff. A spokeswoman said the bill had been reduced from the previous year and that the issuing and use of mobiles was `closely monitored'.

Alan Westwood, from Salford Council, said mobiles were `crucial' to the council's work and that its call rates were `discounted'. He said mobiles `saved time and money'.

A spokeswoman for Tameside council said it had recently negotiated a new contract, which would save on monthly fees and call charges. The council said its councillors paid their own phone bills.

Pam Smith, from Rochdale council, said mobile phones were `vital'. She added: "We regularly review contracts to make sure we're getting the best possible value for money."

A spokesman for Stockport council said it `always strives' to get the `best possible deal' and to keep costs to a minimum.

Wigan council said mobiles allow councillors and staff to work more `effectively'. A spokesman said: "Requests for mobiles have to be justified operationally."

Mark Sanders, from Bury council, said mobiles are provided to front-line staff and those who work away from the office or out of hours. He said contracts and spending were constantly reviewed to ensure `best value for taxpayers'.

Coun Alex Williams, from Trafford council, said having staff available on mobiles benefited residents.

He said many staff with mobiles were based in the community, adding that the council regularly sought tenders for its mobile phone contract.

Coun Lynne Thompson, from Oldham council, said all expenditure was `monitored closely' to provide `value for money'. She said phones were only given to staff who needed them and that its phone contract was `good value'.

Taxpayers' Alliance

Mark Wallace, campaign director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said the £3m bill was `staggering'.

He said: "There may be a case for some staff requiring phones, but these figures suggest the number has got out of hand.

"With taxpayers suffering because of the recession, local councils have got to start tightening their belts and rein in this kind of spending.

"This is a massive bill and I'm sure the public in Greater Manchester would like to be reassured that it is being properly audited."