Conservative Councillors on Corby Borough Council have refused a 1% increase in their monthly allowances offered to them by Corby Borough Council. They say that if all councillors followed suit it would save the taxpayer more than £1,600 per year and around £6,700 over a full electoral term.
The increase has been offered in line with the council's pay review which will see all council staff receive a pay rise of 1%. This will also apply to the allowances received by councillors.
Leader of the Corby Conservative Group, Cllr David Sims, said, "At a time when hardworking people across Corby are struggling to make ends meet, it is wrong for councillors to accept a pay rise. We will be asking the council's finance department to donate the money saved to the Mayor's charities and we hope that the other political groups will do the same."
The decision to decline the increase in allowances has been collectively made by the four members of the Conservative Group who decided to do so unanimously.
Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr Rob McKellar, said, "In a year when Council House rents have gone up by 3.5%, Councillors cannot justify accepting a pay rise. Of course the savings would not be anything like enough to make a difference to housing rents or public services, but the very least we can do is put the money back into the community through the Mayor's charities to support the local people who are helped by these charities."
The allowance increase for other members of the council will be backdated to 1st April 2013.