Members of the council will receive a rise of 2.5 per
cent instead of the three per cent increase recommended by an independent remuneration panel.
This means the basic members’ allowance will be £7,911 rather than £7,947.
Council leader Ian Marks said: “It is wrong that we should be awarding ourselves an increase greater than we are putting in the budget for our staff.
“This is a 2.5 per cent increase so we should award ourselves the same.”
Coun Marks said the increase reflected the fact that members worked longer hours than previously thought by the panel.