DESPITE agreeing to cut cabinet members' allowances by three per cent, the Conservatives at Essex County Hall have been criticised for rejecting a proposal to make further savings.
The proposal to scrap the Special Allowance of the Deputy Leader, which was put forward by Liberal Democrat members this week, was rejected by members, despite claims it would save taxpayers £21,400.
Lib Dem councillor Stephen Robinson, representing Chelmsford North, said: "This post is just not required. The Conservative deputy leader of the Council receives £40,000, eight Cabinet members receive £35,000 and the Deputy Cabinet members receive £13,000 each. The Conservative group must recognise that they lost one third of their councillors in the election and don't need this extra allowance."
The Liberal Democrat proposal was supported by councillors from other major parties including Labour, and the Green Party, although Ukip abstained and it was finally voted down by the Tory majority.
Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, Mike Mackrory, said: "The Conservatives have 56 per cent of the councillors, but have rewarded themselves with 97 per cent of the allowances. This is quite outrageous."
