Councillors freeze allowances

Conservative Group Leader, Councillor Ashley Dearnley believes the council should do more to help people in the current economic climate.

Rochdale Councillors have agreed to a freeze on their allowances.

An increase of around 2% was expected in April but an amendment was brought to Council by the Conservative Party and was unanimously supported by the Liberal Democrats and Labour Party.

Each Councillor is entitled to an increase which is set be the average income in the Borough.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Irene Davidson said: “The freeze on Councillor’s allowance will see a saving in our Borough of around £20,000 which will be put back into the budget. I was delighted to see that this proposal gained cross party support. During these harsh economic times, when many residents, families and businesses are struggling across the Borough I think it would have been immoral of us to be offering ourselves a pay rise. Hopefully this will give the message to the residents of our borough that we are taking this terrible economic climate seriously.”

Conservative leader Councillor Ashley Dearnley was pleased that the amendment received the support of opposition councillors but said that the Lib Dem cabinet could do more to help residents in the current economic climate.

"I'm delighted that the Liberal Democrats supported this motion but I wish they had supported our other suggestions. If they listened to what other councils are doing they would be better off.

"I am currently at a Conservative conference and I find the high rate rise in Rochdale that our council has just announced embarassing. Other councils are not putting council tax up. In Westminster they are giving back 50 pounds to the rate payers and that is what we should be looking to do.

"In other areas, senior officers' pay is being cut and these are the sorts of things we need support on if we are going to make a real difference during the credit crunch."