Councillors in Preston look set to get a small pay rise.

The annual allowance paid to elected representatives is due for a 1 per cent rise.

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This comes as staff at the city council are due to a pay award of 1 per cent during 2018/2019.

An Independent Remuneration Panel has put forward the rise for councillors in their members allowances.

Each councillor can claim a basic allowance of £3,756, rising to £3,794, if they vote for the recommendations in a meeting of the full council on Thursday (19 October).

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Councillors with special responsibilities, for example the leader of the council or those who chair specific committees such as planning, would see a 1 per cent rise as well.

The leader of the council receives an additional £10,448 while leaders of opposition groups receive an extra £3,484.

The pay rise is recommended by the panel after looking at what councillors for other local authorities in Lancashire are paid.

Increasing councillors pay would cost the city council an extra £2,850 during 2018-19 financial year. More than £280,000 is currently spent on councillor’s allowances each year.

Councillors could vote not to accept the recommendation and keep their pay frozen for the next 12 months.

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The number of councillors on Preston City Council is likely to be slashed by 2020 – with new boundary proposals reducing the total councillor headcount from 57 to 48.

You can read the full report by the panel on the city council website.

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