More Councillors' Allowances Agreed

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Sep 2009

The Conservatives have used their majority on West Berkshire Council to force through an increase in the amount spent on Councillors' allowances. But the extra money (just over £7,000) will only go to Committee Chairs.

This year five "Select Committee" Chairs (4 Conservatives and one Liberal Democrat) have replaced the three Chairs of last year's "Policy and Development Commissions" along with the previous "Chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel", who was paid a lower rate of allowance.

"We suggested that the five new Chairs should divide between them the money which used to be paid to the four previous Chairs", commented the Liberal Democrats' finance spokesperson, David Rendel.

"But the Conservatives insisted on paying all five at the rate the best paid Chairs received last year.

"This year many West Berkshire residents will receive no pay increase at all, and some will even have to take a pay cut. This is not the time to pay more to Councillors. It sets a very bad example."