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On May 18, Mayor John Biggs proposed a personal 11.7% pay increase. This was put under a vote and passed as Labour has a majority. The opposition parties, including the Conservatives voted against.
Labour DID NOT ALLOW a recorded vote and then voted for the increases. There were 24 votes for the pay rise and 19 votes against.
Oliur Rahman, leader of the opposition, said that the pay rise follows the mayors decision to make cuts to Children Services, the introduction of new charges for home care service to the elderly and disabled, reducing partnership police force from 40 to six officers, whilst adding a 4% council tax increase.
The pay increases was championed by Deputy Mayor, Rachel Saunders, who oversaw the closure of Queen Mary’s nursery and reducing support for children with autism.
Mayor Biggs has made an additional £21,000 allowance to three Labour Councillors to become his personal advisors. The Labour Group expressed criticism of the previous Mayor’s advisor team, a subject echoed by Mayor Biggs throughout his election campaign.
Leader of the Independent Group, Cllr Oliur Rahman, says: “I find it shameful for the Mayor and his Labour Group to line their pockets with tax payers’ money, just three months after members of the public came to this council to plead with them not to cut their vital services.
Peter Golds, leader of the Conservative group said: “I did not vote for the increases.”
