Council to consider increasing allowances for councillors by 34%

The leader of Rochdale Borough Council - Councillor Richard Farnell

Rochdale Borough Council is considering increasing the allowances paid to councillors by 34%.

An independent panel, chaired by a consultant which advises councils across the country on councillors’ remuneration, is recommending the basic allowance rise from £7,812 to £10,451.

Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The allowances paid to our councillors have been effectively frozen for the past eight years and a review has been overdue.

"The independent report makes it clear that our allowance levels have fallen way behind the Greater Manchester average and the independent report’s new recommended basic allowance for our councillors is still below that average.”

The recommendations are to be considered at a meeting of the council to be held at Rochdale Town Hall on Wednesday 14 December.

• Council leader Richard Farnell in line for a 51% rise
  
  
• Argument for increasing councillors allowances rejected by previous independent remuneration panel