Tory Councillors Feather Their Own Nests - third year in a row that Tories have voted themselves unjustified new pay rise

12.00.00am GMT Fri 7th Mar 2008

Tory Councillors on Chiltern District Council have ignored the recommendations of an Independent Panel and voted themselves, yet again, an above inflation pay rise. All Liberal Democrat councillors voted for the Independent Panel recommendation at the Council meeting on 26th February.

Paul Meakin, Chairman of Chiltern Liberal Democrats Campaign Committee said "Tory councillors need to take a long hard look at themselves. Three times in a row the independent panel has recommended an amount for the councillors allowances, and three times in a row the Tories have voted themselves more. What sort of message does that send out to voters faced with crippling Council Tax demands and further on-going cuts to the basic services they should provide?" Paul added "This arrogant decision comes at a time when the Tories do not have the right councillors to fill all their places on the all important Council Planning committee and threaten further cuts to Council front line services. Chiltern voters will draw their own conclusions about this shabby decision and realise who these councillors really care about."