COUNCILLORS who demanded a £50 wage cut from workers have voted themselves pay rises of £40.

The Wear Valley authority upped its basic payment from £47 a week to £86.69 after a review by an independent panel.

Council leader Councillor Olive Brown's allowance almost doubles to £17,702, from £8,944, while members who chair committees will get £7,748.

The increases will cost an extra £231,000 a year and follow cuts in services and job losses at the council.

They are the first increases agreed at Wear Valley since 1998, disregarding inflation, and leave members taking home less than colleagues in neighbouring authorities.

They were recommended by a remuneration panel of leading figures in business, education, the church and the voluntary sector.

The timing of the decision has been criticised by a union acting for housing maintenance staff who, until negotiations broke down last month, were being pressed to take a wage cut so that the service can compete against private companies for contracts.

Coun Brown said: "There is never a good time, and it is especially unfortunate when the council has taken decisions about its workforce, but we are not masters of our own destiny. We have delayed this as long as we possibly could, but we have not had a rise for five years.

"Members spend many hours on their council duties which are becoming more and more complex and demanding. They lose pay and pensions. I think they are worth every penny."

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Chris Foote Wood called for nationally agreed pay scales, saying: "It is wrong that we should be put in this invidious position."

Wolsingham independent councillors Vere Shuttleworth and Des Wilson voted against the rises.

John Cosgrove, regional organiser for construction union UCATT, said: "This is disgraceful for a Labour controlled council.

"They are feathering their own nests but they are not prepared to give their workforce a living wage. There is one law for the councillors and another for the workers."

Councillors in the Sedgefeld borough are waiting for their remuneration panel report. They get a basic £5,560 a year, with the leader receiving £22,240 and cabinet members £12,510.

* This story was due to appear in yesterday's edition of The Northern Echo, but was omitted because of a production error. We wish to apologise for any confusion that may have been caused.