Notts: Calls for a cut to allowances of committee chairmen

Last month Notts County Councillors agreed to pilot a reduction in the number of four committee meetings for a six month period, in a bid to cut travelling expenses and improve efficiency.

But this week Bassetlaw and Sherwood Liberal Democrats claimed that Bassetlaw Labour county councillors voted against their request for an independent review into the allowances of these committee chairmans.

The group said in a statement: “What example does this give to the people of Notts? The county council is facing £150 million plus of cuts yet Labour councillors want to keep their allowances even when they have agreed to cut their own workload?”

An independent panel recommends the amount paid to county councillors following a review. Allowances have been frozen at current levels since 2009.

Jayne Francis-Ward, monitoring officer at Notts County Council, said: “The law requires an independent remuneration panel to review allowances every four years or where substantial changes are made to governance arrangements. Notts County Council complies with these requirements.”