Cumberland councillors give themselves a 20% pay rise

The uplift was approved at a Carlisle Civic Centre meeting

A local authority has voted to increase councillors' allowances despite some opposing the uplift.

Cumberland Council approved plans to increase their allowance to a minimum of £14,500 per year, a rise of 20%.

Additional money will be paid for those with special responsibilities, including the council's leader who will receive £24,650 a year.

The payments will be backdated to the beginning of April and will total slightly less than £1m for 2023-24.

Recommendations to increase the allowances were made by the Independent Remuneration Panel, which argued the uplift would attract candidates who would better represent their communities "not just those who could afford it".

The decision was approved at a council meeting held at Carlisle Civic Centre on Tuesday.

A total of 31 councillors voted in favour of the increase, 10 were against, while two councillors abstained. There are 46 Cumberland councillors, so three were absent.

Austere times

Botcherby councillor and Independent group leader Robert Betton argued against the change to the allowances and proposed an amendment.

He said the increase went "against the interests of the people we represent".

"We should be setting a good example in these austere times," he said.

His amendment was rejected 37-2, with two abstentions.

Many of those in the room argued the increase was needed to reflect an increased workload, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Mirehouse Labour councillor Mike Hawkins said he was now the only representative in his ward, whereas there had been five before the council reorganisation.

Labour council leader Mark Fryer said it was the most difficult decision they would have to make, adding it should have been "sorted out before we took over".

"What I don't want to do with this council is turn it into the domain of people that can afford to come here," he said.