THERE was severe criticism of county councillors this week after they voted themselves a huge increase in allowances.

This is at a time when council taxi rises are in the offing and Cornwall's services are facing financial pressure.

This week Cornwall councillors agreed they should have a 51% rise in allowances - which would cost around £837,000.

A basic annual allowance, backdated to June this year, would equate to £9,251 per member per year (from £6,402).

Also accepted was a further £8,330 a year for the council leader, £6,248 for executive members and the council chairman, £1,816 for the Liberal Democrat group leader, £1,356 for the Independent group leader, and £620 for the Conservative and Labour group leaders.

The almost overwhelming vote for the expenses hike has prompted a furious reaction from Liskeard mayor, Tony Powell, who recently stood down as a county councillor.

He remains a Caradon councillor and has placed a motion before next week's full Caradon council meeting, which 'condemns in the strongest possible terms' what he says was the 'crass and insensitive decision' by county members to give themselves a massive monetary rise.

Mr Powell also pointed out that this has occurred at a time when half of their employed electorate earn less than half the national average wage.

He added: 'To announce this at Christmas, following the confirmation of t his country's lowest inflation rate for 40 years demonstrates a void between their perceptions of their own importance, and the needs and aspirations of those they represent.'

A motion along the same lines, put forward by Roger Jones, is to go to next Tuesday's Liskeard town council, while another town councillor - Nick Mallard - is equally incensed.

Generous

Mr Mallard, also of Liskeard Town Forum, mentioned the added 'special responsibility allowances' and the 'very generous travel allowance of around 50p per mile for commuting to and from their free and reserved workplace parking, and other minor perks. He said: 'Add to this the similar, though less generous, allowances that many of them draw from the district councils of which they are also members and the day of the £20,000 plus councillor has dawned.'

The county councillor for Liskeard, Mike Gillbard, said the new figure had been reached following recommendations by an independent panel. He said county councillors worked hard and felt they deserved the rise, to a figure which was still much less than officer level salaries.

He pointed out that a councillor is 'always working', and said residents of Cornwall had the chance to demonstrate how they felt about the matter at election times.