Northamptonshire councillors reject allowances increase
Northamptonshire county councillors have voted against an increase in their basic allowances.
An independent panel had recommended an increase from £7,086 per year to £9,000 per year per member, which councillors rejected at a meeting earlier.
They did agree to keep special responsibility allowances, which total almost £1m a year.
The allowances make up for the earnings members lose by carrying out council business.
The £7,086 allowance payment is one of the lowest in England according to a report by an independent panel into such payments.
It had suggested paying for any increase by reducing the Special Responsibility Allowances which some councillors claim on top of their basic allowances.
These range from £34,408, claimable by the leader of the authority, to £3,000 claimed by assistant cabinet members.
In total Special Responsibility Allowances cost the council £474,873 a year.