A survey for the BBC's Radio 5 shows councillor allowances rising above inflation. Between 2004 and 2008 inflation totalled 7% but in almost 300 of the 363 Councils surveyed allowances rose by more than inflation – sometimes a lot more. The survey doesn't include 2009 when a lot of Councils (including my own) are freezing allowances.
Cllr Richard Kemp, the Lib Dem leader on the LGA, defended increased allowances saying: "30% of councillors give up after their first term so it can't be that much of a gravy train if people want to get off it that quickly."
But of that 30% how many jump and how many are pushed?