The party won control of Derbyshire County Council on May 3 and has decided its cabinet members will be paid more than their Tory predecessors.
-
The pay rise, which will be reviewed by an independent panel before April next year, has increased the annual allowance for cabinet members from £26,388 to £29,669.
The move has been condemned by taxpayers and the Tory opposition. Councillor Andrew Lewer, leader of Derbyshire's Conservative group, said it was "remarkable" Labour had introduced pay rises at a time when the council must save £127 million to offset Government cuts.
Jonathan Isaby, political director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "It beggars belief that one of the first acts of the new administration at County Hall has been to increase the amount of taxpayers' money its members are taking for themselves.
"When the council is having to make significant savings, how will the administration retain the moral authority to make difficult spending decisions when the leading councillors have already upped their own allowances?"
The cost of the members allowance scheme to the taxpayer is now just shy of £345,000 - an increase of £17,500.
New leader Anne Western insisted the increase was "justified" and said: "The Tories had nine cabinet members and we've chosen to have six. The increase is reflective of the greater responsibility they've got.
"Andrew Lewer makes the point about us introducing deputy cabinet members. There are nine deputies which have replaced the nine cabinet support roles that existed under the Tories, so that's nine for nine. Some of my cabinet team have given up extremely well-paid jobs to take up a role in the cabinet.
"And what the Tories haven't mentioned are the other changes we have made that will save money, such as cutting out civic duties and stopping the chauffeur.
"Overall, the changes we've already made are going to save the authority money."