DURHAM county councillors have voted themselves a £1,200 increase in their basic allowance, just months after getting a £1,000 rise.

But the Labour-run council said the move will not cost council taxpayers any more money as the increase is being funded by abolishing subsistence payments for work councillors carry out in the North-East.

A councillor with no special responsibilities will, from next year, get £9,400 although there are now provisions for them to forego all or part of the allowance.

The sum is equivalent to an hourly rate of £4.82 for a 37.5 hour week, 32p above the minimum wage.

Trimdon Labour councillor Paul Trippet, serving a six-months suspension from the Labour group for branding the previous 13.8 per cent rise as 'immoral', had planned to oppose the rise, but had been unable to get to County Hall in Durham because his car broke down.

He is calling for a moratorium on any rises until the future structure of the county's local government is decided.

Coun Trippet, steward of Trimdon Labour Club, said: "The public are saying loud and clear they don't want councillors getting massive rises when they are being asked to pay more in council tax.

"Money is becoming too important. There should be a sense of public service being a councillor."

The council also voted to introduce pensions for councillors as part of a 'modernisation' drive, prompted by the Government and adopted by other councils in the region, to encourage younger people to stand for office.

Proposals to increase the subsistence allowance for duties outside the region are on hold for a year pending an officers' report.

The proposals also include increases in the amounts that could be claimed but council leader Ken Manton said he would not be recommending it 'at a time of stringency'.

The moves were backed by Liberal Democrat leader Nigel Martin and Independent councillor for Weardale, John Shuttleworth, who said: "Bringing in pensions is a vital part of our modernisation."

He said rolling subsistence into the basic allowance would simplify administration and reduce costs despite some members, including himself, losing out.

The proposals came from the independent remuneration panel headed by Durham University vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman.