Rutland County Council has agreed to increase Members' Allowances, following recommendations made by an independent Members Allowances Panel – The Welland Partnership Members' Remuneration Panel.

The motion was passed at Full Council earlier this week, with 22 members voting in favour and one against.

The review undertaken by the Welland Partnership Members' Remuneration Panel identified that Rutland County Councillors' allowances are "comparatively low" when compared to other unitary authorities, nationally, and neighbouring district councillors.

Allowances for Rutland County Council's elected members have not changed since 2009.

The report from the Remuneration Panel also identified that allowances are not index-linked and, therefore, have not risen in line with inflation.

Among the changes proposed, the councillor's basic annual allowance would from April increase from £3,770 to £4,944. This move would cost the council £133,488.

A higher range of special responsibility allowances was also proposed for councillors including the leader, deputy leader, cabinet members and panel/committee chairs.

Overall, Rutland Council estimated the changes would cost the council an extra £80,961, with the total bill for such payments increasing from £166,911 to £247,872.

Council leader Oliver Hemsley commented: "I appreciate that the issue of Members' Allowances is certainly not a simple one. I am proud to serve our residents and no councillor I have ever met signs up to this role for any other reason than to do the best for their county.

"Nevertheless, it is important that there is a fair recompense for some of the time that is spent delivering our work. It is also important to have equitable remuneration, on a par with other authorities, so that we can continue to attract high-calibre councillors to represent the people of Rutland in the future."