More than £1 million was paid out in compensation claims against councils in Hampshire, new figures have claimed.

Figures released by the Taxpayers’ Alliance (TPA) show £1.2 million was paid out in claims in 2014/15 and the organisation says compensation culture “is costing taxpayers dear”, although some councils are disputing their figures.

The amount the TPA says was paid out in 2014/15 was more than the £1.140 million paid out in claims in 2013/14.

The TPA’s figures suggest £1.107 million was paid out in 2014/15 after 1,139 compensation claims made against Hampshire County Council.

They include 1,052 claims where “property damage” was listed as the cause and 72 due to “injury” – further details were not included.

However, a council spokesman said the figures submitted by them did not match those quoted by the TPA, adding: "Each and every claim received against Hampshire County Council is investigated thoroughly and the relevant law applied to the individual circumstances.Our experienced litigation teams robustly defend claims where there is no legal liability and their work incorporates identifying fraudulent and exaggerated claims."

He said that not all payments are made in the same financial year in which they are claimed. However the spokesman did not confirm how much was paid out in 2014/15.

In Southampton £70,368 was paid out in 2014/15, compared to £153,199 the year before.

A spokesman said that while payments came from the insurers handling claims on the council’s behalf, “it is still ultimately funded by the council". The spokesman said the self-insurance system for all except the most costly claims, was the most cost effective and was the arrangement used most large authorities.

Claims included £15,228 as a result of a fallen tree branch, £800 for “condensation/damp” in housing and £3,600 as a result of a “flood”.

Winchester City Council paid £161,213 out in claims, according to the figures but the council said 85 per cent of claims are rejected.

“However 85 per cent of the compensation claims received by the Council are repudiated as no legal liability has been established.”

He added that the largest claim against the council in the figures, for £46,654, was closed in November at no cost to the council.

At Test Valley Borough Council the figures say £5,000 was paid out because of the “publication of a libellous letter”, while at Eastleigh Borough Council £46,964 was paid out to one person as a result of multiple “motor” claims.

A spokesman for Fareham Borough Council, where £18,680 was paid out, said the figures were purely insurance claims as opposed as compensation. and they “include elements where our insurance company is responsible to make a payment so costs will not have fallen onto the council.”.

New Forest District Council paid £1,131 and at Gosport Borough Council £1,310 was paid out in policy excess payments relating to three separate claims, which were largely borne by the insurer.

TPA chief executive Jonathan Isaby, pictured, said that while some payments are “entirely justified”, “compensation culture costs the taxpayer. "For every pound spent on settlements or higher insurance premiums is a pound that isn’t spent on essential services such as road maintenance or social care," he added.

He added: “Councils must do everything they can to ensure their mistakes and negligence don’t result in such large bills for hard-pressed taxpayers - and take appropriate action against staff whose actions result in costly claims. “We must also root out those who are playing the system with spurious demands for taxpayers’ cash.”