Increase in councillors' allowances must not be implemented until councillor numbers reduced, says Lib Dem Leader

Councillor Andy Kelly

Rochdale Lib Dem Leader Councillor Andy Kelly has demanded that any increase in councillors' allowances is only implemented when the number of councillors is reduced.

Labour and Conservative councillors voted through a 34% rise in allowances at a council meeting on Wednesday (14 December). However, a Conservative amendment was accepted to instigate reducing the number of councillors from 60 to 40 as part of the process.

Local Lib Dem Leader Councillor Andy Kelly, who voted against the increase, said: "Any rise in councillors' allowances must only be implemented when the amount of councillors is reduced. A failure to do so will go against the spirit of what was agreed at the Council meeting and that is simply unacceptable. If Labour and the Conservatives think locals will be bought off with a vague promise to cut councillors they are naive at best.

Councillor Kelly added: "The process to reduce the number of councillors is a lengthy one. It involves a full public consultation and a review of electoral areas, followed by another huge consultation. Every councillor in the Borough would then have to stand for re-election. It would be difficult to see this happening until 2019 at the earliest. Therefore any pay rise shouldn't be implemented until then."