Liberal Democrat Councillors on Walsall Council will vote against recommendations to increase Councillors allowances reports Group Leader Ian Shires.

The Liberal Democrat Group made its decision at its pre Full Council Group Meeting held on Wednesday where it discussed the report from an independent committee on elected members allowances.

The independent committee in its report proposed increasing the Leader of the Council’s allowances by £2,000 to £22,365, the Deputy Leader’s allowances up from £8,300 to £15,000 and the other seven members of the Cabinet up from £8,300 to £9,300. These allowances are on top of the basic pay for all councillors of £10,378. The overall increase in the allowances budget would be £16,197.

“There was never any question that the Liberal Democrat Group would vote against the recommendations” said Group Leader councillor Ian Shires. “There is no way that it can be justified at a time when residents are having to watch every penny due to the economic mess left behind by the previous Labour Government together with job losses and pay freezes make it totally inappropriate.”

Walsall Council is run by a minority Tory administration courtesy of Walsall Labour councillors who did a deal with the Tories back in May 2011 to allow them to take control providing Labour could have the Deputy Mayor’s job and a few Scrutiny Panel Chairs.

The Tories have yet to have their Group Meeting so at the time of going to press we are not sure which way they will vote. Having said that statements by leading Tory councillors would suggest that they are in favour of the recommendations.

Labour have said that they would vote against the proposals but favour a re- alignment of special allowances of Cabinet pay at the expense  of allowances to Chairs of Scrutiny Panels. This could have something to do with them thinking they will take control of the Council at the Local Elections in May!!