LIB DEM COUNCILLORS VOTE TO GIVE THEMSELVES PAY RISES

Senior Lib Dems at County Hall have come under fire for trying to give themselves pay rises at the same time as proposing to cut other Councillors' allowances.

Councillor Jill Shortland, Leader of the Lib Dems at Somerset County Council, tabled a proposal that she said would cut all Councillors' allowances, but which in fact gave the senior Lib Dems a total pay rise of over £8,700.

This shameful proposal occurred at the Somerset County Council meeting last Wednesday.

David Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Resources, explained, "The independent panel that sets Councillors' allowances proposed an increase for all Councillors, which the Conservative Group unanimously rejected. We did this to show solidarity with the staff at County Hall. They are unlikely to receive a pay rise in the coming year, so why should Councillors? It is sad to see that Councillor Shortland seems to think that she and her fellow Lib Dems are more important than everyone else.''

Ken Maddock, Leader of Somerset County Council, added, "This is no time for councillors to take a pay rise. Tough choices have to be made all round. We are all in this together. It makes it all the harder to understand the Lib Dems 'snouts in the trough' approach.''

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For more information, contact Ken Maddock, Leader of Somerset County Council, 01458 850906 kmaddock@somerset.gov.uk or David Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Resources, Somerset County Council, 07836516112 djhuxtable@somerset.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:

At the meeting of Somerset County Council on Wednesday February 17th, the Independent Members' Remuneration Panel proposed a 2.5% increase for all Councillors, along with various percentage changes to Special Responsibility Allowances: http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/council/board1/2010%20February%2017%20Item%209%20Report%20of%20the%20Independent%20Members'%20Remuneration%20Panel%20to%20Council%20Council%20and%20Appendix%20A%20.pdf and http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/council/board1/2010%20February%2017%20Item%209%20Report%20of%20the%20Independent%20Members'%20Remuneration%20Panel%20to%20Council%20Council%20Appendix%20D.pdf

These increases were rejected, and Councillor David Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Resources asked the IMRP to reconsider its recommendations in light of the current economic climate, returning in May 2010 with its new proposals.

At the meeting, Councillor Jill Shortland, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, tabled an amendment that would have cut Conservative Councillors' allowances by £33,053 compared to the IMRP's recommendations, and proposed to give the following Senior Lib Dems pay rises:

· Opposition Leader: £330

· Opposition Deputy Leader: £1,204

· Opposition Spokespersons: £7,222 combined

· TOTAL: £8,756

However, this amendment was defeated by 29 votes to 18, with 2 abstentions.

Ref: 19Feb10