Council leaders in Barrow agreed with an independent panel to boost allowances, by as much as 50% in some cases.

Opposition councillors on Barrow Borough Council have criticised the move, which comes at a time when the authority is seeking voluntary redundancies and has increased the price of concessionary travel for the elderly.

The deal means council members will get the new allowances rate, backdated to April 2003.

Conservative opposition councillor Jack Richardson said the rise sent "the wrong message" out to the public.

If we didn't act to increase allowances now, we would just have to increase them by even more next time around. Terry Waiting, leader of Barrow Borough Council

He said: "We are going through a period of severe financial restraint on the council, cutting services and making people redundant.

"This is not the time to start talking about increasing members' allowances. It gives the wrong message to the public.

"I do not criticise the decision of the independent panel, but the council has the power to accept it or to take no action.

"The council should take the view that the time is not right for this."

'Not exorbitant'

But council leader Terry Waiting said councillors were worth the extra money.

He said: "The total cost of the increase is �8,500.

"The people that got these increases are worth it.

"One man I know who takes time off to come to a committee meeting, loses in wages more than he gets in a whole month of attending meetings.

"If we didn't act to increase allowances now, we would just have to increase them by even more next time around.

"We want to attract people of quality to local government, we are working people and we have to have some sort of recompense for the money we lose.

"I think the allowances being paid now are not exorbitant or anything else and are just in keeping in line with inflation."