Councillors vote to reject uplift to their allowances

COUNCILLORS have voted down an independent recommendation that would have seen them receive a higher basic allowance for fulfilling their role.

- By DANIEL HODGSON Local democracy reporter

Cllr Joan McTigue spoke out against the proposed higher allowance

Middlesbrough councillors were presented with an independent proposal that would have seen their remuneration for 2025/26 increase by nearly £1,400.

A decision on the matter was deferred at September's full council meeting. There had been expectations that the matter would be deferred again at this month's meeting, with Labour Mayor Chris Cooke last week saying: "The entire scheme needs looking at again."

However, on this occasion, there was a near-universal rejection of the cash uplift, with one abstention.

There was very little debate on the matter at full council, with independent Councillor Joan McTigue making a passionate case for not increasing the basic allowance, highlighting food bank usage in the town and other factors she argued were indicators that less money should be spent on councillor allowances.