Allowances rise for councillors

Councillors from Kent County Council have voted to increase their basic allowances by 8%.

Members' basic allowances had not been increased since May 2005 and will be frozen at the new rate for four years.

The council said it took into account inflation over four years, the size of the authority and the "long hours and onerous duties" undertaken by members.

Paul Carter, council leader, said the rise was set by an independent body and was justified.

"There's no element of snouts in the trough here," he said.

"This is the Independent Remuneration Panel making a set of recommendations which the Conservative group today has endorsed.

'Insult to voters'

"I think that when you compound the inflation rate over the last four years it would probably have been nearer to 12 to 13% to stand still."

But the opposition Liberal Democrats described the increase as an insult.

Opposition leader, Trudi Dean, said there should have been a public consultation on the matter.

She said: "Every Conservative present voted against that and we were told it would be a monumental waste of time and effort to gather public views.

"We found it astonishing. We've learnt nothing apparently from the last few weeks and we regard it as an insult to voters."