Councillors vote to pay themselves extra £130k

OPPONENTS SAY RISES ARE 'OBSCENE' AND AN 'AFFRONT TO RESIDENTS'

- By DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

COUNCILLORS in North Tyneside have voted through a set of pay rises for themselves, which have been branded "obscene" by opponents.

Allowance increases equivalent to a £130,000 annual uplift across the Labour-run area's 60 councillors were signed off on Thursday evening.

The largest uplifts will see the additional special responsibility allowance given to deputy mayor Carl Johnson increase by more than £6,000 and for cabinet members by nearly £8,000, rises of 85% and 235% respectively. A councillor's basic allowance will increase from £10,829 to £11,176, while elected mayor Karen Clark's salary will jump from £68,499 to £70,691, both up by around three per cent.