A ROW has broken out after councillors voted to award themselves an eight per cent pay rise – double proposed by an independent panel.

Civic chiefs at Eastleigh Borough Council may see their basic allowances rise from £6,240 to £6,739 from August 1.

This is despite the independent remuneration panel, made up of non-councillors, suggesting town bosses pocket no more than £6,500 – a four per cent increase.

But Eastleigh council’s Liberal Democrats voted in favour of an eight per cent pay rise, saying the hike is based on increases in the size of the wards and in councillors’ responsibilities.

Opposition councillors said tat the end of Junethe proposed pay rise was above the two per cent awarded to staff.

Conservative leader Judith Grajewski said: “Councillors work hard but then so do the council’s staff and if two per cent is what they’re getting, I fail to see how councillors can, in all conscience, give themselves an eight per cent rise. Eastleigh Borough Council is already strapped for cash.”

The panel also suggested that the leaders’ allowance should be cut from £19,959 to £19,500 but the committee voted to freeze it.

A council spokesman said the panel suggested an increase in basic and special responsibilities allowances, but the committee only agreed an increase in the basic allowance.

He added: “This represents a saving of £11,700 on the current scheme, and is an £8,000 saving on the overall cost of the scheme proposed by the independent panel. The decision to increase the basic allowance is based on the fact that ward sizes have increased by 13 per cent and electorates will have grown as much as 35 per cent between 2002-21.”

Chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance John O’Connell said: “While many public sector workers have accepted limited pay rises in recent years, it beggars belief that Eastleigh councillors are so indifferent to the financial position of their council. Restraint should be exercised and this proposal thrown out immediately.”

A final decision is set to be made at full council on July 19.