Herefordshire Councillors crushed a proposal calling for the implementation of a voluntary 10% reduction in Councillors' attendance allowances and the Councillors who suggested it faced a barrage of criticism. However, Councillor Andrew Atkinson vowed this week to continue his fight for a proper debate to work towards cutting salaries of senior staff.

At a full council meeting on Friday, at the Council's HQ in Brockington, 33 Councillors voted against the motion, five abstained, and only the Councillors who proposed and seconded the motion, Cllrs Andrew Atkinson and Paul Rone, voted in favour of it. The motion proposed a "voluntary 10% reduction" to Councillors' basic allowance, encouraged Councillors to "consider not claiming all available expenses", and, according to Cllrs Atkinson and Rone, could have saved Herefordshire Council up to £40,000 per year.

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.