Members of North Yorkshire County Council have voted against awarding themselves an increase in their allowances.

The council’s independent panel on members’ remunerations had recommended a one per cent increase in line with pay awards to local government employees. It would have seen the basic allowance given to all members increase from £8,994 a year to £9,087, in addition to increases in those councillors receiving special responsibility allowances.

But at its quarterly meeting last week, members supported an amendment from council leader Coun John Weighell, proposing no increase.

“At a time when the authority is being forced to make significant savings it would be wholly inappropriate,” he said.