A proposed increase in allowances for senior councillors in Walsall has been dropped, it was announced today.

The authority’s ruling Conservative group said today that no further action would be taken on the proposal due to be discussed by the council tonight.

The move had prompted fierce criticism from political opponents.

Under recommendations made by an independent remuneration panel, allowances for the council leader would have increased by about £1,600 a year to £22,356.

The deputy leader would have seen their allowance almost double from £8,300 to £15,000, while allowances for other cabinet members would have risen from £8,300 to £9,300.

Today, council leader Mike Bird said the Conservative group held a “full and open discussion” on the issue at a meeting on Friday.

“It became clear after further discussions over the weekend that members felt that no action should be taken in this matter at this point in time,” he said.
It is the second time an increase in allowances has been mooted but then deferred. Similar plans were suggested in October 2010 and dropped the next month.

Both the opposition Labour and Liberal Democrat groups had said they would not vote for the increase at tonight’s meeting.

Councillor Tim Oliver, leader of the Labour group, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the anger that these proposals have generated.” Liberal Democrat group leader

Councillor Ian Shires said: “There was never any question that the Liberal Democrat group would vote against the recommendations.”