Conservatives against 8.3% pay rise for Councillors

Tonight at Ebley Mill the Labour led Coalition proposed an 8.3% pay rise for Councillors. Currently Councillors receive £4616 in an allowance. The proposal was to increase this to £5,000 per annum, an increase of £384 per year or a cost of nearly £20,000 to the tax payer.

Debbie felt this was particularly inappropriate given that  most of the electorate have had a pay freeze or cut over the last few years. Debbie moved an amendment to cap the increase to 1% which is that which public employees are being limited to. This amendment was opposed by the Coalition who even managed to curtail the debate by calling the vote early and preventing other Conservatives speaking including Paul Carter who had seconded the amendment.

Local Conservatives including Dorcas Binns, Paul Carter, Elizabeth Peters, Brian Tipper and Haydn Jones have committed to giving the additional allowance to local charities.
 
Debbie will be committing hers to the British Heart Foundation campaign Great Stroud Bake Off, which will raise funds for the charity and encouraging people to bake.

People can watch the debate on the Stroud District Council website

There will be more of this campaign in the near future