Councillors are set for a cash boost if a proposed pay rise of more than 50 per cent goes ahead.

Braintree Council wants to add £300 to each member's basic allowance over a six-month period.

District councillors are currently given £1,000 a year as a basic allowance and the move, if approved, would mean their first increase in eight years.

Council chiefs made the offer after they commissioned an independent report into allowances in April which revealed the amount needed to be brought more up to date.

The extra cash to members will cost the council an extra £18,000 between October and next March.

A final decision on the proposed changes will be made by the council's strategy committee today (Wednesday).

It will also be considering whether to adopt a member's child and dependent carers allowance - which is set to cost a further £2,000.

John Kotz, who will chair the strategy committee, said the extra allowance money would be spent by councillors on council business.

He added: "The one thing we've never done in Braintree is overpay our councillors.

"They've had to make do with a modest basic allowance for a long time and even the rise uses a very low base.

"The allowances are used for things like postage stamps, envelopes and the price of these items has obviously increased over the last eight years.

"I would say that by and large councillors have had to dip into their own pockets to pay for their council duties."

"I also welcome the new carers allowance which is aimed at members who need their children or relatives looking after in the course of their council business."

An independent review of other allowances such as travel expenses is also set to be commissioned later this year.

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