Norfolk county councillors vote to increase their allowance pay

Kay Mason Billig argued for an increase in councillor allowances

Councillors' allowances will be increased and backdated, but not everyone at an authority agreed with the decision.

At a Norfolk County Council meeting, members voted for a 3.82% (£360.30) rise effective from April 2023.

Councillors are entitled to a yearly basic allowance which covered their time at meetings and travel costs.

But Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat group said voting for a backdated allowance was "excessive."

"We are in a situation where we may well be asking vulnerable people in the county to bear greater hardship, regarding the possible reduction in the Minimum Income Guarantee," he said.

Speaking about an allowance rise he added: "I'm just very uncomfortable at the idea that councillors are voting themselves a pay rise."

Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Norfolk County Council said he was uncomfortable with the proposal

At the county council, all members are currently given a basic allowance of £12,010 per year.

The proposal to increase the sum was recommended by an Independent Remuneration Panel - a group of non-county councillors who look at councillor's spending and commitments.

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at county hall, suggested the allowance should be accepted but not backdated to April 2023.

His comments came as the authority looked at a range of cost-cutting measures to save £52.2m in its budget for next year.

"We are, in a couple of weeks, having to look at cutting back on council services because of under funding from the government," he said.

"There's been a history of taking excessive increases. These aren't excessive in numerical terms, but they are excessive on top of everything else in the current context."

His suggestion was voted down.

Steve Morphew's suggestion was supported

Conservative Kay Mason Billig, leader of the council, spoke in favour of the increase, and said it was in line with that being offered to council staff.

"Being a councillor is significant commitment and it's important that a range of people are able to come forward as elected members," she said.

"We don't want potential candidates on lower incomes to be put off because they cannot afford to give up some of their paid work.

"So it is fair and reasonable to align any increase with what we offer our staff."