Lancashire county councillors have decided to freeze their allowances, even though an independent body recommended an increase.

Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson says the refusal of a proposed increase councillor allowances is “for the benefit of residents”

The Reform UK group in charge of the authority stated that it would be inappropriate for elected officials to accept a pay raise while the county council is aiming to save over £100m in the next two years.

Their stance was supported by most opposition groups, although some expressed unease about the precedent the move might establish.

Every year, an independent remuneration panel reviews and recommends the allowance levels for councillors to compensate them for the time spent on council duties. This money is not considered a salary.

Lancashire County Council’s annual allowance bill is currently £1.78 million.

After reviewing May’s local elections, the remuneration panel proposed a 3.2 percent rise in the basic pay for all 84 county councillors, increasing it from £14,301 to £14,759. This increase, which would have been backdated to the spring, aligned with the pay raise agreed upon for most county council staff this year.

The panel also suggested increases in the “special responsibility allowances” (SRAs) given to members, on top of the basic amount, for duties beyond those of a backbencher. This includes roles like committee chairs, cabinet members, and the leader, whose SRA would have risen from £42,903 to £44,277 under the recommendations.