Councillors have awarded themselves huge rises in allowances, causing a political storm.

The powerful policy and resources committee of Brighton and Hove Council agreed to a basic increase in allowances for all councillors from £5,000 to £8,000.

There will also be steep rises for members of the ruling Labour cabinet and for some other leading councillors.

The total sum allocated for allowances will rise from around £550,000 to £850,000 and the new rates will be paid from tomorrow.

Opposition Tory leader Geoffrey Theobald said: "We are putting 60 per cent on council allowances when inflation is running at two per cent and we are cutting the social services budget by £1.7 million.

"Pensioners are receiving a rise of just 73p a week and council tax is rising by 12.5 per cent. This increase will be condemned by the people of Brighton and Hove."

Senior Tory councillor John Sheldon: said: "We are saying to our employees that they can have a three per cent rise and we can have 60 per cent without taking on any more responsibility."

And Liberal Democrat leader Paul Elgood said councillors were already held in low esteem by the public. This would make matters worse.

He favoured a return to the old system whereby councillors were paid allowances for each meeting they attended.

But acting chairman Ken Bodfish said the rises had been recommended by an independent panel.

Cabinet modernisation councillor Sue John said councillors felt uncomfortable about having to make the decision themselves.

But she added: "If we are to attain a reasonable spread of councillors, we need proper recompense."

Green councillor Pete West said councillors should be paid a proper rate for the amount of time they spent doing their jobs. He added: "Some councillors are in a very difficult position financially and it prevents others from entering public life."

Coun West said: "When councillors are paid more, you won't get any thinking it is a good skive"

Senior Labour councillor Brian Fitch said councillors had waited a long time to be properly paid for what they did. But he added they would have to show the public they were providing value for money.

One change to allowances recommended by the panel was agreed by the committee.

This was to make a temporary special payment of £2,000 each to the 19 lead councillors.

In the meantime the extra allowance of £22,000 for council leader Lynette Gwyn-Jones will be cut to £16,400 and the £10,000 for cabinet councillors will be reduced to £7,200.

Challenged by Coun Bodfish as to whether Tories would take the extra allowances if they were approved, Coun Theobald said the Conservatives would distribute them in a different way if they could.

Coun Bodfish added: "Those opposed to the increases do not have to accept them."

The new allowances will be endorsed at a meeting of the full council tonight.

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