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Tories in bid to award themselves extra cash
Lancashire's new ruling Tories today came under fire for moving to increase allowances on their first day in office.
The Conservatives put forward a proposal to award themselves 32,990, as opposed to 26,462 which was recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel.
The panel advised Labour be given 13,022, the Liberal Democrats 10,718 and the Green Party and Independents 2,217 each.
However, the Tory recommendation amended allocations to 10,350 for Labour, 6,878 for the Liberal Democrats and no change for the Green Party and Independents.
The allowances – separate to individual and special responsibility payments – pay for the general running of the party including a whip, secretary and chairman.
County Coun Geoff Driver, Lancashire County Council leader, said: "We have accepted all the recommendations of the panel except for the calculation of the block allocation to individual groups.
"Under our proposal, this recognises the difference with the size of the groups."
>> Ruling Tory party vows to keep promises
The Conservative group has 51 members, Labour has 16, the Lib Dems have 10, while there are three Independents and the Green Party has two.
Last year the majority Labour group consisted of 44 members and the second biggest group, the Conservatives, had 31.
The Tories put forward the amendment during the first full council meeting at County Hall and it will now go back to the independent panel.
County Coun Driver added: "We haven't changed the special responsibility allowance budget either in total or to individual members.
"The special responsibility allowance has been reduced compared to last year."
But in response to the proposal, County Coun Charlie Briggs, leader of the Lib Dem group at County Hall, said: "One of the lessons learned from the MPs expenses scandal is that politicians should not be setting their own allowances, the first act of the Conservative-run county council was to go against independent advice on members pay.
"This amounts to the Conservatives putting pressure on the panel to adopt their scheme. That defeats the object of an Independent Review Panel.
"If we are to start restoring public confidence, we must allow the panel to do its job."
In 2008/09 Labour received 25,164, the Tories got 20,911 and the Liberal Democrats 8,579.
Labour group leader County Coun Jennifer Mein said: "The Conservatives tabled an alternative proposal and I think it's absolutely diabolical that's the first thing they have done – to go against an independent panel and drive through something that goes against the recommendation.
"After all that's happened in the media with national government, you would've thought a bit of restraint would've been shown."
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Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
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