Stafford councillors defend 15 per cent pay rise

Members from across the political divide approved an increase in their annual allowances from £3,913 to £4,500 at a meeting on Tuesday in line with the recommendations of an independent panel.

Council leader Patrick Farrington will see his allowance bumped up from £8,798 to £10,500 a year – a 19 per cent increase - as part of the approved measures.

It comes at the same time the town's library has been moved to save £75,000 and public sector workers are experiencing a four-year pay freeze.

Councillor Kenneth Williamson, cabinet member responsible for resources, said members were treated exactly the same as the authority's staff in terms of taking on additional responsibilities.

He was backed up by fellow cabinet member, Councillor Jeremy Pert, who said a reduction in the number of councillors from 59 to 40 has seen workloads for individual members substantially increase.

Members' allowances were not due to be recalculated until next year but the early review was triggered after the Boundary Commission recommended 19 members be axed from the authority.

Councillor Pert said: "When you look at the increased workload through the Boundary Commission changes, actually in three members wards there is about 50 percent more work individual members.

"While this is never a popular area to talk about it is high time to do this. It is critical if we are going to bring people of all ages and all balances into this chamber and attract younger people as well as those in employment.

"Keeping the allowances low does not allow for that to happen."

The council's opposition Labour group also voted in favour of the hike in allowances.

Councillor William Kemp, leader of the Labour opposition, said: "We are bottom of the list when it comes to comparing our allowance to those at other authorities.

"It will take a long time for this council to catch up and pay councillors the same allowances as others do in Staffordshire. "

Independent councillor, Christine Baron, was the only member to raise objections to the increase in the allowance.

She put forward an amendment proposing members reject the proposals - but received no support from her colleagues.

Stafford councillor allowances were last set properly in 2012. They have increased slightly since then but only in line with inflation.

The council has stated that overall the changes will save £23,000 this year because there are fewer councillors.

The Independent Panel on members Reunumeration, which recommended the increase, said it had also taken into account the level of resources at the council's disposal, the number of meetings per year, the time spent by members on council business, the level of responsibility among other reasons.