Councillors vote for 25pc pay rise
Protesters were kicked out of a Black Country council meeting minutes before members voted to give themselves a 25 per cent pay rise.
Police were called to Dudley Council House at 6.30 last night to eject about 50 campaigners after complaints that they were disrupting the meeting by heckling from the public gallery. The mayor, Councillor Pat Martin, suspended proceedings after protesters ignored warnings to be quiet.
About 30 minutes after the meeting resumed, councillors voted in favour of a near-£2,000 increase in their basic allowance to be backdated to April. Other pay increases for councillors in senior roles were also approved.
About 200 protesters from three campaign groups had gathered outside before the meeting to show their anger at the pay rise. Council workers, the Save Coseley Baths campaign and Save Pensnett High School group turned out in force to make their feelings known.
