A Liberal Democrat councillor has urged fellow Redbridge Council members to cut the amount they pay themselves in allowances.

Cllr Richard Hoskins, Church End Ward, asked colleagues to reconsider payments in the “truly awful” state of the economy.

Councillors are currently paid �10,137.96 per year, with members earning more for extra responsibility. The total cost Redbridge council taxpayers is about �1.25million annually.

Cllr Hoskins said: “I trust members will have the opportunity to consider and reduce the amount of allowances we decide to pay ourselves, so that we, like the residents we serve, can show we are prepared to share a little more of their pain in these awful times.”

But Conservative council leader Keith Prince and deputy leader of the Labour group Wes Streeting agreed current allowances were necessary.

Goodmayes ward’s Cllr Ali Hai, who previously offered to give up his allowance if his colleagues did the same, called for a public consultation on the issue during the debate at full council on Thursday.

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