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25/06/2009 Kent Tories Vote Themselves 8% Pay Increase
At the first meeting of Kent County Council since the elections on the 4th June 2009, which led to the Conservatives having 74 of the 84 County Councillors, they voted for a recommendation from the "Independent Remuneration Panel" to award Councillors an 8% (£1,000 per year) increase in their £12,000 per year allowance. This was despite the fact that they were advised that already Kent County Councillors were the best paid in the South-East of England.
Leslie Christie - Leader of the Labour Group - said "It is outrageous that the first decision taken by this new administration is to vote themselves a significant pay rise. I don't know what they were hearing on the doorsteps during the election campaign but we were being told by voters in no uncertain terms that they felt politicians were in it for themselves. This decision makes it much harder to refute that view. Kent County Councillors already are the best paid in the South East of England - there is no need to make us even better paid. This additional £120,000 could be better spent on services such as roads and pavements. The two Labour County Councillors voted against the recommendation.”
Leslie Christie:
01474 361564 or 07889 639428
