DISTRICT councillors have quelled the urge to increase their expense allowance this year – having failed to budget for the rise. An independent report, commissioned under the 2000 Local Government Act, recommended an increase in the basic allowance from £3,889 to £4,500 per year. If proposals had been rubber stamped, East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) would have to have funded the rise through its corporate planning reserve fund with a one-off payment, after not planning a budget provision for the rise. Commissioned by the independent review panel, the report recommended the increase, which falls in line with similar local authorities. Last month at Penns Place, EHDC business director Bill Price presented councillors with three options – to agree to the rise, with next year's increase funded from the revenue budget; to defer the increase until next year; or to reject the proposal. "We don't want to be in this position again in future years," he said. But Liberal Democrat leader Jerry Janes was scathing toward the a clear lack of financial preparation. "It doesn't strike me as very clever. We appointed a committee and knew it was going to happen and knew the financial implications," said the Alton councillor. But he recommended that councillors vote for the increase, saying: "We should go with the the independent review panel's report. "You don't have to take this increase if you don't want to – be my guest. "But there are some people to whom this is important. I don't think anyone should be prevented from taking a role on this council because they can't afford it." Council leader Ferris Cowper disagreed, saying: "I propose that the council does not implement the recommendations of the panel on this occasion. "Many colleagues feel the recommendation award is out of keeping with current local and national circumstances, and for this council to award themselves a percentage of this order is inappropriate." Whitehill Lib Dem councillor Adam Carew added that the rise may be important to younger councillors. "One thing that I'm slightly concerned about is that if you want to get more young people involved in politics on both sides you might not be in a huge job. "It is important that you don't have an attack on these people and prevent them from getting involved in local democracy. "Having said that, councillors are people too and they also have needs." Conservative Maurice Johnson countered: "I do not believe that increasing our allowance would prevent people from becoming involved in local politics. If the only reason they want to become councillors is because of a financial incentive then that's entirely the wrong reason." Alton Lib Dem member Tony Ludlow said: "I disagree with Maurice Johnson. Being a councillor without pay is an extremely expensive hobby. No- one has come into this trying to make money. "We haven't budgeted for it. Let's leave it for a year," he said. Alton Conservative councillor Andrew Joy added: "We should not be publicly seen to be undervalued. Since the time of the report a number of changes taken place." EHDC's deputy leader, David Parkinson, agreed with Mr Cowper, adding: "There should be detailed review in a year. I think the economic climate is wrong and it sends out the wrong message." Councillors voted to defer the proposals until the next financial year.
