Councillors 'pay' up by twice the inflation rate

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Nearly 20,000 picked up an average of £9,300 in 'allowances', the basic pay they get from town halls.

In some local authorities, the sum was more than £20,000 a year.

The increase - to a total of £182million in 2006 - was a rise of six per cent from 2005 when inflation was less than three per cent.

A breakdown by the Taxpayers' Alliance and the Is It Fair? council tax protest group showed the highest allowances are paid by the Greater London Authority, whose members averaged £58,266.

The rise in allowances comes at a time of rapidly growing pay for town hall officials, the most senior of whom now earn more than £200,000.

Councillors are paid a basic rate set by their local authority, and collect extra payments for childcare, travel and other expenses.

Committee chairmen, other senior members and council leaders get more. In Birmingham, for example, the leader is paid £52,080 a year.

Local councillors were not paid until the Seventies.

Christine Melsom, of Is It Fair?, said: "Years ago it was considered a privilege to stand as a councillor. Not any more. It is just a gravy train with too many passengers."