DARLINGTON Borough Council has been accused of hypocrisy for saying it cannot afford a pay rise for low paid nursery nurses while backing a big increase for its own members.

The nursery workers and teaching assistants, who work in schools for less than half the wage of qualified teachers, have been in formal negotiation with the council since March 2000.

The long drawn out discussions finally resulted in an agreement in February this year.

Alan Dochery, Unison representative at the Town Hall, said: "The new pay scales have not yet been introduced because the authority says it cannot afford them.

"The first year cost of the pay increases is in the region of £95,000 and despite Unison pressure for the council to make budget provision for this since 1999, it has refused.

"Nor will the council use any of the windfall money it has received from Durham County Council. A letter sent by the union to both the chief executive and the director of education last month, asking for a share of the unexpected rate rebate of £900,000 for the Dolphin Centre, has been unanswered."

The 53 members of all parties at last Thursday's full council meeting were unanimous in accepting a pay scale recommended by an independent review body.

It gave individuals an extra £1,800 a year with a sliding scale of increases for special responsibilities ranging from £3,280 for leader, Coun John Williams, down to £2,151 extra for the Tory leader, Coun Tony Richmond.

The £120,000 cost to the taxpayers was backdated to May of this year and payments are index linked. Members also voted themselves pension rights and dependents' allowances.

Mr Docherty pointed out: "This was £25,000 more than the amount needed to implement the nursery nurses' pay deal for 250 staff."

Mary Harris, a nursery nurse, said: "I am not saying that the councillors don't deserve a rise. But so do we. I find it hypocritical that they can find money for themselves, but not for us.

"We do a very important job for low pay. We need to be valued and rewarded too."

Paul Wildsmith, director of finance, said last week that there was plenty of money in this year's budget to fund the pay increase for councillors.

"Since it appears there is money available in this year's budget for their allowances, I am asking for a meeting with Geoff Pennington, director of education, to discuss the funding claim for our employees," said Mr Docherty.