Kent Lib Dems vote against Councillors allowance increase

6.08.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Jun 2009

The Liberal Democrat Group on Kent County Council have voted against a report giving County Councillors a rise in basic allowances of 8% at the first County Council meeting after the elections.

The report was put forward by the Independent Renumeration Panel, and recommended basic allowances rose from £12,000 to £13,000 a year.

The full voting on the report was:

• For: 64 (all Conservatives present)

• Against: 8 (all 6 Lib Dems, 2 Labour)

• Abstained: 1 (Independent)

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Trudy Dean said after the meeting:

"After the expenses scandals of our MPs over the last few weeks, we need to be absolutely straightforward with voters. Amazingly, it seems the Conservatives have learnt nothing from the last few weeks. It's an insult to the voters.

"At this time, the public need to be clear that all politicians are not the same. We should make even an independent report open to the public and take their questions, comments and feedback. Do the public think that our allowances are good value for money when we explain the work that County Councillors do? We should ask, explain and take their view and only then should we discuss allowances. That's why the Liberal Democrats voted against this move to increase Councillor allowances,"

New Liberal Democrat County Councillor Tim Prater commented:

"It's just wrong that our the FIRST Council meeting following an extraordinary set of elections, Conservative Councillors voted for a proposal to increase basic allowances by £1,000 a year. We have to re-establish trust with the public. To do so, we can't simply say that we're simply accepting an increase in allowances because an independent review says we can. Of course the Council CAN. But that doesn't mean we SHOULD.

"We've been told that Kent's basic councillor allowances are the highest of any County Council in England. There needs to be a public, open debate on whether that is right, and what a fair figure should be. An open discussion in that way would give Kent County Council a good name. Its sad the Conservatives have voted as a block to ensure that didn't happen."