MALVERN Hills District Councillors have rejected a proposal to increase their allowance.
A 1.75 per cent increase to the basic allowance for 2022/23 was recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel at a council meeting this week.
It was rejected by councillors who said they did not want to accept the rise during the current cost of living crisis.
The basic allowance will stay at the current rate of £4,650.
The Independent Remuneration Panel, separate from the council, was appointed to carry out reviews of the allowances paid to councillors, as required by the Local Government Act 2000 and subsequent legislation.
The panel has stressed its recommendations was based on thorough research and presented what it considered to be an appropriate set of allowances to reflect the roles carried out by the councillors.
Coun Natalie McVey, Deputy Leader of Malvern Hills District Council, said: “It isn’t appropriate for councillors to accept this pay-rise amidst the current economic climate.
“We are currently going through a cost-of-living crisis where people across the district are struggling, the increase is unjustifiable.”
