July 9, 2013 3.48 pm This story is over 128 months old

Lincolnshire Labour councillors oppose 22% pay rise

No rise? Labour councillors in Lincolnshire are hoping their peers vote against a 22% rise in their allowances due to the economic climate.
Photo: Petr Kratochvil

Labour Lincolnshire County Councillors are putting a motion before the Full Council this week to stop councillors’ pay allowances rising by 22%.

The motion, put forward by Councillor John Hough and seconded by Councillor Robert Parker, aims to encourage councillors to vote against a rise in their allowances given the current economic climate.

Instead, Labour councillors want to see peers vote on July 12 for just a 1% rise in allowances in order to continue fulfilling their posts.

In 2010, a review by the Independent Remuneration Panel recommended that councillors receive on average £1,816 more in allowances per year.

This outcome came at the same time Lincolnshire County Council had to save £125 million due to cuts, which meant the loss of jobs and services.

The council agreed to defer the increase and use the money toward the Lincolnshire community instead.

After the May 2013 election though, the review to decide what happens regarding allowances needs to be decided upon now.

Councillors can either vote for the 22% rise, which is recommended, to not increase the allowance at all, or to ignore the Remuneration Panel and add a 1% increase to the post-election allowances.

In a statement for the motion, Hough wrote: “People in Lincolnshire have already suffered from the recession with cuts in living standards, job losses, and reductions in public services.

“Two weeks ago further cuts in Government funding were announced which could mean a loss to Lincolnshire of another £15 million pounds.”

The motion will go before the Full Council in the Council Chamber in Lincoln at 10.30am, on July 12.