Rutland County Councillors have voted to freeze their allowance in a movement showing solidarity amid rising living costs and a 4.99% increase in Council Tax.

Councillor Alan Walters shared on his Facebook page the results of a recent council vote regarding the Councillor allowance.

On a motion to freeze Councillors' allowances, fourteen Councillors voted in favour of the freeze, while seven voted against and three abstained, including the Leader of Rutland County Council Oliver Hemsley.

A recorded vote was requested on the amended motion by Councillor Alan Walters and, with four other Members in favour, a recorded vote was held.

Those who voted in favour were: Councillors Nick Begy, David Blanksby, Kenneth Bool, Andrew Brown, Paul Browne, Joanna Burrows, William Cross, Jeff Dale, Abigail MacCartney, Lucy Stephenson, Leah Toseland, Gale Waller, Alan Walters, and Rick Wilson.

Alan Walters said: "It is true to say that historically councillors in Rutland had seen their allowances eroded by inflation to unrealistically low levels, hence the uplift a couple of years ago with plans for annual increments to avoid this happening again. However we are now living in different times when our residents are facing genuine challenges to their living standards - and it seemed to me to send all the wrong messages to increase council tax by the maximum allowed by legislation and then to spend some of that council tax on increased councillor allowances.

"I do not accept the bleating that I heard from some Councillors who wished to see their allowances raised - some were elected to the back benches knowing they would receive an allowance of under £3 thousand per annum but are now receiving more than £17 thousand per annum. These are supposed to be an allowance not a salary."

Cllr Walters was one of three RCC Councillors who recently voted against the council's budget and against increasing council tax. He recently resigned from The Conservative Party thereby losing his place on RCC Cabinet, accepting a £12,000 per annum cut in allowances to "uphold his principles". This most recent vote enforces his stance.

Cllr Leah Toseland added: "I understand that Rutland has not seen a raise in members allowances for some time, and that in comparison to other Local Authorities it is considered a modest allowance. I voted against the rise for many reasons.

"I appreciate other Members concerns around the hardship faced, as I also face the same hardship. The country is facing a severe cost of living crisis. It is also insensitive and crass to ask for more, when the public are faced with council tax bill of 4.99%. I want to show people I am with them and understand their struggles. I face them too.

"Ultimately, I believe that the change should come from the Government. They should fully and properly fund Local Government. They should ensure the public are paid a real living wage and it is in line with the cost of living. They need to do more to address the fuel and energy cost crisis."

Those who voted against were: Councillors Paul Ainsley, Edward Baines, Gordon Brown, June Fox, Samantha Harvey, Rosemary Powell, and Sue Webb.

Those who abstained were: Councillors Oliver Hemsley, Marc Oxley, and Ian Razzell.

With fourteen votes in favour, seven against and three abstentions, the motion was carried and the Councillor allowance will be frozen.

On top of this motion, Councillors have been busy over the past weeks rejecting a planning application submitted by T&S Rabbits and launching a public consultation on a new local Parking Policy.

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