Tories In Pay Increase Row Told Help The Elderly Not Yourselves

Cambridgeshire Tories should invest £100,000 in cash-strapped care for the elderly rather than setting it aside to give themselves a pay rise, Lib Dems claim.

They have called on the Tories to allocate the money to Adult Social Care rather than use it to line their own pockets.

“At least that way if the Tories give themselves a pay rise the public will be able to see where they are taking the money from,” said Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat Leader, Kilian Bourke.

“We should not be giving ourselves a pay rise when front-line services are being cut and people are losing their jobs.  Adult Social Care has been chronically underfunded for a number of years and desperately needs that money.”

The outcry follows a decision by the Tory administration on Cambridgeshire County Council to allocate £100,000 in its budget to fund an increase in councillors’ allowances. The decision comes despite the fact that the allowances panel which will discuss the matter has not even been appointed yet.

 "Given the outcry over the 25 per cent increase in councillor allowances some months ago, I find it incredible that this administration has chosen to set aside £100k in its budget for this purpose," said Cllr Bourke.

"It may only be a provision for a pay rise, but it is the equivalent of a 17.5 per cent increase in our basic allowances and that sends out a frankly incongruous message to members of the public who are facing hardship but paying their council tax."