Tory pay rise defeated by Lib Dems

At last night's full Council meeting, Shepway's Lib Dem Group proposed an amendment to the Council's budget.

The amendment demanded that Councillors' pay should not be increased, but kept at its present level.

Lib Dem Councillor John Hughes proposed the amendment. He said "At a time when our Council is so strapped for cash that over £800,000 is having to be saved in order to balance the budget, it would be irresponsible to raise Councillors' allowances.

"The whole Lib Dem group were astonished that the ruling Conservative Group had set several thousand pounds aside in the budget, apparently with the intention of increasing Councillors' pay."

The Lib Dem amendment was passed by the Council, even though the Conservative group tried to vote it down.

Cllr Hughes added "I thought it was outrageous to see the Conservative group trying to increase Councillors' pay. It harks back to the days when they last ran the Council and the Leader's pay in particular had increase after increase. They should be ashamed."

Notes for editors:

Cllr Hughes' amendment to stop the increase in Councillors' pay read:

"Council considers that any increase in Councillors' allowances in the 2005/06 financial year is unacceptable. The budget for Members' Allowances and Expenses in 2005 /06 (Corporate Resources portfolio Item No 1) should therefore be reduced accordingly"

The amendment was passed, in spite of Conservative Councillors voting against.

Ends