Cabinet overturns expenses cut proposal

At a budget meeting of the overview and scrutiny committee last month, Lib Dem Councillor Sue Prochak's proposal to block a 9,000 increase on members' expenses as a goodwill gesture to Bexhill taxpayers found unanimous, cross-party support.

The minutes of that meeting read: "Members considered that it would not be appropriate to accept an increase in allowances when it was clearly evident that savings needed to be found within the budget."

But on Monday Cabinet reversed this position and voted to accept the money, which equates to an actual gross increase of 163 for each of Rother's 38 councillors.

Some will be paid more or less depending on their responsibilities, but this figure is the average basic increase.

Cllr Prochak, pictured, said: "I was surprised when I did get support when I proposed this but then someone did say, Well it's got to get through cabinet.

"This arrangement was fixed three years ago before we had this terrible recession.

"It seems to me the council should make a gesture of collective will to the public."

Carl Maynard, Tory Leader of Rother District Council (RDC), condemned what he said was an attempt to politicise a relatively minor issue, saying: "It's very unfortunate to try and politicise this issue around members' allowances when you are well aware it's the province of an independent panel.

"I don't think this is the big issue you are trying to make it.

"It's for individual members to decide if they want to claim for allowances."

The increase in councillors' allowances was set by an Independent Remuneration Panel around three years ago.

The base figure each councillor receives varies significantly, but can be seen on RDCs website under the archived news items.

Cllr Robin Patten pointed out: "I personally do not think that there is very much point in employing or using independent assessors for this council if we decide to disagree with them at any point.

"It negates their value and enables the council to have a say in their own allowances, which has got to be wrong."