A LEADING councillor has defended an increase in his allowances of more than £8,000.

Rochford District Council Tory leader Terry Cutmore, who represents Ashingdon and Canewdon ward, was paid less than £16,000 last year. This will now increase to £25,500.

Mr Cutmore was paid only £9,499 two years ago.

Opposition leaders have criticised the rise, which will also mean an increase for other members of Rochford Council’s cabinet, where eight councillors make the majority of the decisions.

Deputy leader Mavis Webster, who is also an Essex county councillor for Rayleigh, will receive £17,000 a year.

Other members of the cabinet will each receive £12,740 following recommendations made by an independent panel.

The new figures, agreed by 17 votes to four at the last full council meeting, will be backdated to May this year.

Mr Cutmore said: “This represents the ‘stronger leadership model’ which we have been advised to operate by the Government.

“The council has accepted an independent view which is based on the amount paid in comparable authorities. Effectively, being leader of the council is now a full-time job.

“I would say on a good week I spend between 30 and 40 hours a week on council work.

“Sometimes it is less, but very often it is much more.”

Mr Cutmore said he currently has a part-time job with energy company E-on, in London Road, Rayleigh, but intended to leave to concentrate on council duties.

He said: “After taking early retirement, I needed the job to make up my income.

“Now I will be able to dedicate more time to council work and be more accessible.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Chris Black said he was opposed the increases, as he did not believe they would improve the quality of cabinet members.

He said: “If they think it will attract younger business people to the council, then this just isn’t true. This type of person will stand, not for the extra money, but if they feel they can make a difference, and still fit council duties around a normal working life.”

Mr Black said the cost of the extra allowances would be about £50,000 a year.

He added: “I hope the Tories will not be thinking about increasing car parking charges to pay for this.”

The leader of Essex County Council, Lord Hanningfield, earned a basic councillor’s allowance of £10,550 in 2007/08.

On top of this, as council leader he also earned a special responsibilities allowance of £36,922.