Reform lead rejection of allowance rise for Lancashire county councillors

Lancashire county councillors have voted to freeze their allowances - in spite of an independent body saying they should be increased.

- by Paul Faulkner

County Hall's bill for allowances will not increase this year

The ruling Reform UK group on the authority said it would be wrong for elected representatives to accept a rise for their roles when the county council is searching for savings of more than £100m over the next two years.

Their stance was backed by most opposition groups - although there was disquiet from some about the precedent the move could set.

Each year, an independent remuneration panel is tasked with recommending the level at which allowances are paid to councillors to compensate them for the time they spend on council business. The money is not classed as a salary.

Lancashire County Council's current annual allowance bill stands at £1.78m.

Following a review after May's local elections, the remuneration panel suggested a 3.2 percent increase in the basic rate given to all 84 county councillors, which would have taken the payment from £14,301 to £14,759.

That increase - to have been backdated to the spring - would have been in line with the pay award agreed for most county council staff this year.