Pay rise plans branded 'obscene' and 'immoral' by Lib Dems (From Times Series)

Pay rise plans by Conservatives on Barnet Council branded 'obscene' and 'immoral' by Liberal Democrat Councillor for Childs Hill, Monroe Palmer

1:03pm Tuesday 13th July 2010 in News By Kevin Bradford

PLANS to give leading Tory councillors huge pay rises have been met with disgust by a long serving opposition member.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Childs Hill, Monroe Palmer, has branded proposals to boost some member's allowances by £20,000 as “obscene” and “immoral”.

The former leader of the group, who has been a ward councillor since 1986, admitted he has no qualms with his party losing its group secretary allowance, but was adamant any other pay rises for his opposition colleagues would be wrong for the perception of politics in the borough.

The proposals would follow the guidelines set out by the London Council's independent panel on the remuneration of councillors, and would result in council leader Councillor Lynne Hillan boosting her allowance from £34,909 to £54,227, cabinet members doubling their allowance to at least £34,780 and committee chairman benefiting by more than £5,000.

Cllr Palmer said: “We find it obscene, whatever London Councils say.

“Not every council in London is doing thing and shame on Barnet Council they are looking at it.

“If it were to get through it would be an insult to the people of Barnet, an insult to the council employees who are facing cut-backs, and an insult to the taxpayers, many of whom have lost their jobs.

“At the same time, Lynne Hillan, who has been a very ineffective leader of Barnet, is voting to give herself a pay rise of up to £65,000.

“It is immoral. David Cameron and Nick Clegg I'm sure would admit this is not in the spirit of the coalition government.”

The item will be discussed and voted on at the full meeting of the council in Hendon Town Hall, in The Burroughs, from 7pm.