LOCAL councillors unanimously rejected a pay rise offered to them by an independent panel, amid a heated discussion about local government cut-backs.

But they were divided over a suggestion to cut the number of elected members and a call to cut the pay of senior councillors - ideas which were both defeated when it came to the vote.

The meeting of the Full Council at City Hall tonight heard that an independent panel had recommended that Bradford’s 90 councillors be given a one per cent rise in their allowances, in line with a national pay settlement.

Council leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, said that in a group meeting beforehand all Labour councillors had agreed to reject this pay rise, as it wouldn’t be right amid plans to cut millions from services.

But the opposition Tories called for them to go further.

Councillor Simon Cooke, leader of the Conservatives, said councillors who received additional allowances for taking on extra responsibilities should have a five per cent pay cut, including himself.

He said: “I don’t see it as unreasonable for us to step up to the plate and take a small reduction in the amount we are paid.”

And the Liberal Democrats opposed a plan to increase the amount paid to the three Executive assistants.

Councillor Brendan Stubbs (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said: “I think it is an important signal to the district, who will be becoming increasingly annoyed with this chamber.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe said the authority never asked staff to take pay cuts, so asked why councillors should be any different.

She said: “It would be five per cent this year, five per cent next year, and what happens after that? How far do you actually go?”

She said they would end up having voluntary councillors, thereby restricting the role to the “rich and retired”.

The Conservatives’ suggestion was defeated at the vote, as was another Tory suggestion to cut the number of councillors from 90 to 75, which had been backed by the Liberal Democrats.

Cllr Cooke said they were sending out the message that it was OK to have fewer front-line workers but not OK to cut the number of councillors.

He said: “That’s not the message we should be sending out to the public.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe said an independent review had recommended keeping all 90 councillors.