COUNTY councillors are to vote this month on whether to increase their own pay after a row with a watchdog.

The Independent Remuneration Panel, IRP, which recommends pay levels for elected members, says the basic £11,848 allowance should be frozen in 2010-11.

IRP chairman Peter Humphreys said: “The view of my panel and myself is that it is contradictory for councillors to award themselves a pay increase when many council taxpayers in the county have had a tough time in the recession and continue to do so.”

But senior councillors, who met last week, said the annual amount paid to councillors could increase in line with any pay deal for council officers.

The pay panel also urged councillors to cut their “profitable” petrol allowance from 53p to 40p per mile – in line with the maximum tax-free rate recommended by the Inland Revenue.

This was first recommended in 2008 and could save the council £30,000 a year, but no action has so far been taken.

Mr Humphreys said: “We are disappointed that councillors have not reduced their mileage rate from 53p to 40p. This is not just wasting £30,000 a year of taxpayers’ money but hardly sets the best example, in my view.”

Council leader Ken Thornber said no decision should be taken until pay and mileage rates for council officers are settled. The council is currently consulting unions.

He said the pay panel’s proposal to keep councillors’ allowances at the current rate will be put to the full council to decide on Thursday, February 18.

Cllr Thornber said: “The position on national negotiations should be clearer by mid-February.”

The IRP drew up a raft of recommendations at its meeting in November last year. Minutes of the meeting are on the council’s website but the IRP says they are inaccurate.

The IRP has accused the council of “censoring” the public record of its meeting. Mr Humphreys said important information is missing, including an alleged overpayment to Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Keith House of £469 after an accounts error, and a recommendation for an annual reporting of councillors’ workload, including attendance at council meetings. He said: “HCC is free to reject, amend or accept any recommendations made by the IRP. It is not free to censor the public record or our deliberations.”

Meanwhile, Cllr Thornber has suggested several changes, including fresh payments to two part-time Cabinet members. North Hampshire Cllr Marilyn Tucker and Cllr Peter Edgar now assist Cllr David Kirk, executive member for education.

Cllr Thornber said their roles are vital, as the department runs 541 schools and its budget was the largest.

As a result, he felt they should have £8,690 per year, half of the £17,379 payable to Cllr Kirk, on top of their basic allowance.

Lib Dem leader Cllr House objected on the grounds that it would create an extra Cabinet salary. The committee agreed to leave the matter to the full council in February.

Council chiefs then rejected the IRP’s advice to pay an extra £5,600 to Cllr Keith Evans for chairing the River Hamble Harbour Board and provide extra pay for each of the seven councillors who chair Hampshire Action Teams, saving £37,000.