Angus councillor Ewan Smith has pledged to match every penny he claims in expenses with a donation to local charities.
Until now, Mr Smith has been reluctant to claw back the cash he pays out for petrol for trips to and from his Arbroath ward to council meetings held elsewhere.
But now, rather than waive his claim, he will collect his mileage and pass it on to worthy causes.
The Arbroath independent councillor, who was elected in 2012, said: “I have vastly under-claimed on expenses.
“In the last three years I have submitted travel expenses totalling £933. That is less than a tenth of the expenses submitted by some other councillors.”
Mr Smith offered no criticism of his fellow councillors and stressed that everyone’s circumstances are different.
But he said he “didn’t feel comfortable making travel claims from Arbroath to Forfar to go to meetings where we are charged with making cuts that affect services within our community.”
Since he was elected, Mr Smith has claimed £797, £136 and zero in annual mileage expenses.
“From now on my policy will change,” he said. “My expense bill will increase to the level whereby I claim my entitled travel so the net cost to Angus Council will increase.
“But for every single penny I claim, I will match this by donating a penny to a local community group or charity that benefits my ward in Arbroath.
“I intend making a maximum of three larger donations throughout the year, to try and benefit the greater number of people in my community and anticipate the annual donation will be in excess of £1,000, depending on expenses.”
Mr Smith pledged to publicise who the recipients of each donation would be, stressing that the only beneficiaries will be recognised community groups or local registered charities, who can enhance the donation via Gift Aid.
The councillor said he had notified the council’s chief executive, Richard Stiff, who, he said, had been very supportive, and that he would maintain this approach throughout his time as an elected council member.
Mr Smith said: “I know other councillors already readily donate to charities and community organisations, as do I, but I would love to see others where possible follow this stance.
“Being a councillor has never been about the money, for me.
“Away from council, I now work within my community as a taxi driver and hope that by encountering people with everyday issues, this helps me have a greater understanding of the impact our decisions have on them.”
Angus councillors cost £625,218 in the last year. Vehicle mileage expenses accounted for £37,889 of that total, with a further £14,049 attributed to use of the council car.