IPSWICH: Members of the borough are next week set to reject proposals to increase their allowances by about eight per cent at next week's full meeting.

Paul Geater

IPSWICH: Members of the borough are next week set to reject proposals to increase their allowances by about eight per cent at next week's full meeting.

The independent committee set up to make recommendations about council allowances has recommended that the basic pay for ordinary members should increase from �3,745 to �4,000 a year.

However, councillors will be told to reject the proposal and keep their allowances at their current level.

Council leader Liz Harsant said her Conservative group would be telling its members to vote against the rise.

She said: “Given all the problems faced by the country as a whole and local government in particular, we could not accept any increase.

“It was not a great amount, but it was the principle - I am sure all the councillors will unanimous in turning down the proposed increase.”

Opposition leader David Ellesmere was sure his group would also reject the increase.

He said: “At a time when many council workers are looking at much smaller increases, wage freezes, and are facing possible job losses we really should not be even debating this kind of thing.

“I cannot imagine that anyone will vote in favour of the increase.”

Do councillors deserve an increase in allowances? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk >