Council votes in favour of personal allowance increase

The proposed increase in member allowances is part of a plan to ensure Adur councillors receive the same amount as their Worthing colleagues by 2020.

This recommendation was brought forward, in September, by an independent panel of residents tasked with setting the annual remuneration of the council’s 29 members.

The amendment was discussed at a full council meeting at the Shoreham Centre, in Pond Road, Shoreham, on Monday evening.

The increase will see the basic allowance jump from £4,036 to £4,336.

Labour councillor for Eastbrook ward Les Alden was against the allowance increase.

Speaking at the meeting, he said: “Is it right that we should pay ourselves when there is so much needed in Adur?

“I have come up with various ways we could better spend the money. We should go away and come up with further ways this money could be spent on other items rather than voting on it tonight.

“Members should think about the best ways to spend this money rather than keeping it.”

Leader of the council Neil Parkin disagreed with councillor Alden’s views.

He added: “Councillor Alden has provided five other ways to spend this money but the first four involve money from the housing revenue account which is totally ring fenced. It would actually be against the law to go ahead with his proposals.”

The full council voted unanimously in favour of the amendment with just six councillors voting against it.

One of those who voted against it was Labour councillor for Cokeham ward Barry Mear.

He added: “I put last year’s rise back into the community and will do so again.”

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