A CROSS party committee has agreed that Southampton councillors should be awarded inflation-busting pay rises.

Members of Southampton City Council's Standards and Governance Panel agreed that councillors worked hard and deserved more money.

As reported by the Daily Echo, an independent panel has recommended rises of up to a massive 325 per cent for the council leader, Cabinet members and others with special responsibilities.

Independent Standards Panel member Geoff Wilkinson said: "The proposed allowances are very reasonable when you compare them with other local authorities. They are not right at the top they are midway. Some councillors work 80 hours a week."

Under the proposals, to be agreed at a full council meeting later this month, Tory council leader Cllr Alec Samuels would see his leaders allowance go up by 83 per cent from £13,660 to £25,000 putting him on £35,293 including his basic allowance.

Cabinet members would get 75 per cent rises to £15,000 plus the £10, 293 basic allowance while opposition group leaders would see their £6,133 allowance rise to £8,000, a 30 per cent increase.

The largest rises would be handed out to committee chairmen where Lib Dem councillor and former mayor John Slade would see his £3,080 allowance go up by 325 per cent to £10,000 for his role on the planning and rights of way panel.