Councillor refuses pay rise attacked as ‘obscene’

ONLY one North Tyneside councillor has opted to decline their recently boosted allowances, it has been revealed.

- AUSTEN SHAKESPEARE

Councillors voted through a set of pay rises for themselves in September - a move which was branded “obscene” by opponents.

A £130,000 annual rise in allowances across the Labour-run area's councillors was signed off on the recommendation of an independent remuneration panel. It will see some members receive uplifts of nearly £8,000.

‘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 3%.