Pay freeze agreed at council meeting

The 58 councillors were asked at their full council meeting to consent to a freeze on their pay in line with what employees at the council have already agreed to.

The proposal was described as ‘only fair’ by the authority’s leader Councillor Sean Coughlan as he battles to find £86 million of savings by 2020.

The councillors were not able to accept a freeze at the same time as council staff as their allowances need to be discussed through an independent remuneration panel.

The panel has also presented options for four ‘cabinet support members’ to receive an extra £3,462 each as a special responsibility allowance (SRA), which councillor Coughlan said he would not be proceeding with at the meeting.

Councillor Coughlan said: "I believe, as I am sure everyone here does, that it is only fair we have a pay freeze.

"In terms of the cabinet support members, I have been in politics long enough to know when to back down and it is clear that tonight the proposals for cabinet support members will not get the support to be brought forward.

"It is a shame because these are positions that are taking off in popularity across the country, they provide good training to young employees and would offer assistance to our cabinet members."

However, councillor Mike Bird, the Conservative opposition leader, called the titles 'non-jobs' and said he didn't believe the workload taken on by some cabinet members meant they should be allowed to take on a new support member.

He said: "I still believe this is a non-job and I have to say that some of the cabinet members should start putting together a time sheet, detailing each week what they do towards that position.

"After that is done, they can tell me whether they need a cabinet support member."

The assistants, who have already been in place for a year, will continue to work for no extra money,