REDDITCH Labour group has slammed the decision by Conservative councillors to maintain the councillor allowances at the current level.
At the full council meeting Monday the town’s Labour Group tabled an amendment to remove extra special responsibility allowance (SRA) from the leader and deputy leader, and also end the SRA for executive members without portfolio.
The Tory group caused public uproar in 2019 by increasing Special Responsibility Allowances by 326 per cent for all members of Redditch Borough Council.
For the last four years, over £35,000 has been spent on allowances for non-portfolio holders, and over £56,000 on extra payments to the leader and deputy leader.
This is the highest spend on SRA in the area.
Labour claims its amendment would redistribute cash to reflect the workload of committee chairs and the opposition leader.
The amendment was voted down by the Conservatives.
Coun Sharon Harvey, deputy leader of Redditch Labour Group, said: “This was an attempt to claw back an annual £21,872 of council money which we believe could be better used supporting our residents.
“Councillors always say ‘we don’t do this for the money’ – the Labour Group has shown it is willing to follow that up with action.
“Why on earth should a councillor with no extra responsibility claim an extra allowance just for sitting on the executive committee?”
Coun Joe Baker, Labour Group leader, (pictured) said: “This was a thoroughly reasonable amendment in line with the recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel which suggested ending multiple SRA payments.
“The Conservative Group has shown its true colours by choosing to keep that money in its own pockets.
“Redditch Labour plans to gain control in the May elections and we will implement this scheme of allowances for our group members.
“This will provide vital funding for council services and go towards reintroducing an outdoor market for the people of Redditch.”
In a Facebook post, the Redditch Conservatives claimed the amendment would have also given the leader of the opposition a pay rise of 380 per cent, and the chair of the Audit a raise of 254 per cent.
They said: “This comes after the Conservative Party had already turned down the independent remunerations panel’s advice that councillors should accept a seven per cent pay rise.
“Instead, under the Conservatives, next year all councillors will receive exactly the same as this year.
“The Conservatives recognised, with the cost of living crisis hitting everyone, it wouldn’t be right to ask for more.
“Our Councillors work incredibly hard but we do it because we’re passionate about our town.”
