A pay rise of 100% for Derby City councillors is expected to be formally approved on Wednesday evening.

The increase, which will mean a basic councillor allowance rising from �4,052 to �8,000, was recommended by an independent panel and will bring the council in line with other authorities.

The council's policy committee has already agreed the increase in advance of the full council meeting.

Leader of the council, Bob Jones, will receive an allowance of �24,000 - an increase of �15,000.

Services 'unaffected'

The leaders of the minority groups on the Labour-controlled council will each receive �6,000.

Overall the increase in councillors' allowances will cost the council an extra �223,260 a year - the changes take effect from 1 December.

But a Derby City Council spokesperson said that council services would not be affected as a result.

She told BBC News Online said: "These are significant increases but they reflect the increased responsibility councillors now have.

"The increases have been built into the budget for next year and this will not affect the council's services."

She added: "The councillors themselves did not have anything to do with the increases, they were recommended by an independent panel, and they bring us in line with other local authorities."