Lib Dems will vote against the proposed massive increase in councillors' allowances

Councillor Irene Davidson and Councillor Andy Kelly

Councillor Andy Kelly, the Leader of Rochdale Lib Dems, has confirmed that his party will vote against any rise in councillors' allowances.

Councillor Kelly claims to have received the biggest amount of correspondence since getting involved in politics over this issue. Councillor Irene Davidson will join Councillor Kelly in voting against the highly controversial increases at Wednesday's council meeting.

Councillor Kelly said: "There has been a huge public outcry over these proposals - quite justifiably in my view. Over the past few years, the Council has had to take tough financial decisions that have affected the most vulnerable. The Council must be seen to be putting resident’s first in tough times. This flies in the face of that.

"Not a week goes by when we don’t see expensive Council spin doctors complaining about Government cuts on behalf of Richard Farnell. One thing that the public don’t like is self-serving politicians. If this goes through – even voting for a smaller percentage increase – it sends a message to the public that councillors are greedy and in it for wholly the wrong reasons.

"I would argue that the performance of the Council needs looking into when discussing a rise in councillors' allowances. Don't forget that only this year our Borough received the unfortunate tag of being the ‘…most deprived in Britain’ by the respected Joseph Roundtree Foundation. I could give various other examples including the Council being labelled a ‘basket case’ in the media. We don’t deserve a pay rise and if this goes through residents won’t forgive Labour."

A motion, to be moved by Councillor Kelly and seconded by Councillor Davidson, is to be put to the Council at the meeting:

That this Council recognises the public anger caused by any rise in councillors' allowances, that Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council is faced with huge budget shortfalls and that we reject the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/106730/council-to-consider-increasing-allowances-for-councillors-by-34pc