WEST Devon?s representatives on Devon County Council are soon to receive a pay rise, after councillors voted to increase their allowances by more than 60%.
However, the increase is not as high as the figure recommended by an independent panel, which would have seen basic allowances rise from £5,508 to £11,000.
County councillors at their meeting last week threw out the panel?s recommendations for an across the board rise in allowances, saying the increases were too expensive for the authority. It is the second time in three years the council has turned down proposals for big allowance increases.
The rise in basic allowance to £9,000 agreed at the meeting will be met from the existing allowance budget and savings generated by cuts in special responsibility pay and a reduction in car mileage rates, which will save £13,000 a year.
The increases proposed by the independent panel reflect the belief that basic allowances are insufficient to encourage a wider diversity of people to stand as councillors and take on a public role.
The panel was concerned at the county?s future ability to attract quality councillors while retaining members with experience. It found the average age of Devon?s elected members was 57 ? and only two are under the age of 50. Just 14 councillors are women.
The basic allowance paid to councillors is designed to cover travel costs within their constituencies, postage, telephone calls and surgery expenses. The panel calculated that backbench councillors who qualified for the basic allowances worked an average of 28 hours a week on council business.