COUNCILLORS swept in an inflation busting 13 per cent pay hike today which their leader described as: "not a fortune".

Only five members of Durham County Council's 61 members voted against the rise which will see their basic allowance boosted from just under £7,500 to almost £8,500.

There will also be huge rises in the special responsibility allowance with council leader Ken Manton seeing his salary boosted from £4,000 to £26,281 and his deputy Don Ross's allowance rising 23 per cent to £16,141.

Other cabinet members will gain a £4,500 rise with the chairman and vice chairman of the council's scrutiny committee being given £4,500 and £3,500 rise respectively.

The move will cost the authority £120,000 a year.

The rises were swept in at yesterday' full council meeting in Durham, despite an attempt by the Liberal Democrats to amend the motion which would keep the special responsibility rises but rule out the £1,000 rise in basic allowance.

Newton Hall Coun George Hunter, who proposed the amendment, said: "Given the council tax rises of the last two years we are only adding insult to injury to County Durham tax payers.

"We would prefer the increase to go to our local communities."

Neville's Cross councillor and Liberal Democrat colleague Nigel Martin, said the reason they were amending only part of the motion was because they recognised the work of the cabinet and other committee chairmen.

Independent Coun John Shuttleworth said the motion should be thrown out in light of the council tax increases and school closures.

Afterwards he said: "They're making a big thing about doing a full time job but these are people who already do get paid for other work they do."

But leader Ken Manton rejected the comments and said: "They are reasonable compromises between the voluntary nature of members' roles and what financial recompense they ought to receive.

"We aren't making a fortune here. We're talking about a relatively small amount of money."

Coun Manton called for a national scheme to even out any pay disparity between authorities.

Those who voted against the rises were: Councillors John Shuttleworth (Ind); Reg Ord (Ind); Nigel Martin (Lib/Dem); George Hunter (Lib/Dem) Barbara Howarth (Lib/Dem).