by political editor Paul Francis

County councillors are being urged to take a bigger "pay cut" as part of their efforts to save taxpayers’ money.

The independent panel that sets allowances for Kent County Council says the 84 elected members should be prepared to have them reduced by more than the 1.5 per cent that is planned.

In a rebuke for the authority, the panel says KCC should think again about the plans to cut £200,000 from its allowances budget because most of the money to be saved will come from making support staff redundant rather than from cutting allowances.

In a report setting out its views, the panel says KCC already pays the highest rates of any authority and that the emphasis on cutting jobs ahead of reducing allowances "should be reversed."

The council has outlined plans that would see the basic allowance of about £13,000 paid to each councillor cut by 1.5 per cent - about £200 each. However, that would account for just £16,400 of the savings package.

There would also be fewer special responsibility allowances paid to those with senior roles, such as cabinet members. That will save a further £40,000, while £20,000 is to be cut from the IT budget set aside for members. The balance would come from making staff who assist councillors redundant.

Deputy county council leader Cllr Alex King said he did not believe allowances for members should revert to the levels they were before 2009, when the panel made its most recent recommendations.

"I understand the point being made by the panel, but the staff reductions represent less than half of the £200,000 and are no more than the staff reductions being made across the organisation as a whole."

Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Les Christie welcomed the panel’s report. He said: "We believe in the circumstances that members should be willing to accept a £1,000 reduction and have a basic allowance of £12,000. There are enough jobs being lost without members adding to them."

KCC’s budget, agreed in February, set out plans for £95m of savings this year.

The report is due to be considered at a full council meeting next Thursday (12).