COUNCILLORS in South Oxfordshire voted to give themselves a 58 per cent increase in their allowances instead of 21 per cent increase recommended by an independent panel.

The increase means the council's 36 councillors will now be able to claim £4,575 a year, up from the £2,900 they were allowed before.

The last-minute proposal was made tonight by South Oxfordshire District Council leader John Cotton, against an independent panel recommending a 21 per cent increase to £3,500.

And Mr Cotton increased his extra leader's allowance from £10,000 to £18,151.

The increase was voted for by all but three of the 29 councillors at tonight's meeting in Crowmarsh Gifford.

In addition to the basic allowance, the council leader will be able to claim £18,151, cabinet members will be eligible for £8,470 each and other key positions also get an extra stipend.

If all councillors claimed all their new allowances it would cost the council £268,511 a year, but it is not clear yet if all councillors will claim.

Mr Cotton justified the hike by saying his council's allowance was still one of the lowest in the country.

He said: "Over the last 12 years we have consistently rejected increases in our allowances.

"There have only been two increases in that time, the last eight years ago."

He added: "It is interesting looking around this room to note that about two thirds of councillors work full-time.

"We have to make sure that the allowances available in no way put off people who would like to be on the council and have to take time out of their day to do it.

"The allowances need to reflect that level."

He also said that following a reduction in the number of councillors this year from 48 to 36, the move would be covered by the council's contingency budget and taxpayers would not be affected.

Twenty-nine out of 36 councillors attended the meeting.