A decision is due on changes to Bolton councillor allowances after its leader Cllr Nick Peel proposed amendments to the scheme.
It comes after the conclusion of a review by academic Declan Hall and the members of an Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP).
The IRP said the annual allowance paid to all councillors of almost £12,000 is comparable to the rest of Greater Manchester, and not in need of changes, but suggested the Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) paid to some councillors is, in some cases, not an appropriate amount.
They recommended all of the cabinet members should receive a pay increase of around 75 per cent, while the leader should receive a pay increase of almost £6,500 for their responsibilities on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, at a cost of tens of thousands to the council.
READ MORE: Bolton Council leader appoints eight to new-look cabinet.
At a meeting last month, Nick Peel said these changes were 'unpalatable' in light of the cost of living crisis. He asked for the issue to be discussed at another meeting then brought before the council.
Cllr Peel proposed amendments to the scheme which he revealed to The Bolton News and a decision is due at the town hall next week.
If approved, cabinet members will receive a pay increase from £7,265 to £9,115, or around 25 per cent as opposed to 75 per cent. The leader will not receive a pay increase at all for their responsibilities on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The cost to the current administration is zero because the cabinet is one person smaller than it was under the previous administration.
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Cllr Peel said: "I've done some work to redistribute some of the monies but with the result it is a cost neutral solution so there is no extra expense to the public purse.
"I would ask members to support this proposition. I cannot speak for the Conservatives and for the Liberals, but it is difficult to understand why anyone would argue against a cost neutral solution."
This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.
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