From Kent Online (www.kentonline.co.uk): Councillors vote in favour of allowances hike

5.47.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 26th Jun 2009

Conservative Kent County councillors have voted through an eight per cent increase in their allowances despite Lib Dem calls for the payments to be frozen.

County council leader Paul Carter dismissed a call from the Liberal Democrats for the new allowances - which were recommended by an independent panel - be rejected and that the decision should be delayed until the public could be given a chance to have a say.

He rejected a Lib Dem call for the decision to be put on hold to allow the public a say. "That would be a total waste of time and effort."

Liberal Democrat opposition leader Trudy Dean said KCC should be prepared to allow the public a say before any increase was voted through.

"If the last few weeks have taught us anything, it is that members of the public need some involvement in setting our allowances. It has become perfectly clear since the exposure of MPs allowances that there has to be greater exposure and quite rightly so."

The rise in basic allowance means Kent county councillors will be among some of the country's best-paid local politicians.

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