The new administration at Ealing Council have attracted criticism over their decision to grant senior Councillors significant increases in allowance.

The leader of the Council, Jason Stacey, had his allowance increased by 43.4% to £38,950 a year. Mr. Stacey has given up a full-time job to devote himself to leading the Council. The deputy leader, Ian Gibb, will be paid £28,950, up by £9,500 and the Mayor, Diana Pagan is to receive more than double her predecessor at £23,950.

The total spent on Councillors' allowances now exceeds £1 million. The opposition councillors are also receiving an increase in their allowances with the leader of the opposition receiving £14,950 up by £8,000.

Mr Stacey has reportedly claimed that the allowances are below that recommended by the Association of London Government and that they were agreed prior to the election with the previous leader of the Labour group, Leo Thomson.

July 21, 2006