Chris Whitehouse: Councillor allowances should go up, not down

We need to ensure we are attracting those who can deliver effective and efficient services to our local communities.

Harry Fone: £255 million a year is spent on councillor allowances. That is where the economy drive should begin.

Plus: White elephants in Brighton – and Nottingham’s inept venture into the energy market.

Teresa O’Neill: Cutting the costs of Bexley’s politics

We have reduced the number of councillors by 30 per cent and we froze allowances for nine years running.

Gareth Lyon: By professionalising councillors, we are repeating Parliament’s mistake at a local level

Ever greater state funding is being followed by ever greater statism in political thought – and the decline of independent thought.

Meirion Jenkins: Birmingham is the largest metropolitan authority in Europe – and one of the worst-run.

The structure and management of the council needs total reform. I would reduce the current 101 councillors to around 30.

Tony Devenish: Seven practical messages for local authorities

Talk of being “cut to the bone” is nonsense. Here are some challenges councillors should be making about unnecessary spending.

Why do some Tories think it appropriate to give themselves pay rises in a time of austerity?

The latest council leader to vote to increase his own allowances talks of himself as a business leader, not a public servant.

Councillor allowances boosted in Cardiff

Chairing a committee is paid at the rate of over £2,000 per meeting.

Judy Terry: The public sector pay cap should apply to Council chief executives too

Last year a council Chief Executive received an eight per cent rise, taking her salary to £170,000 – whilst most of her staff were stuck with the basic one per cent

Joel Davidson: It is time to ditch three member wards in London

We should have fewer councillors – but they should be full time.

Judy Terry: The Grenfell Tower fire illustrated a lack of local leadership

Attacks on the Prime Minister were unfair and unreasonable – the local authority was the lead.

Paul Cooper: Councillors should not be given free iPhones

When it comes to fiscal prudency it is important to set a good example.

Simon Cooke: Labour council leader cuts services but refurbishes her own office

Bradford faces real challenges Labour prefers to spend money on frills and fripperies.

Judy Terry: An anti-establishment message will have potency in the county council elections too

Think twice before giving a Chief Executive approaching retirement an 11 per cent increase on an already high salary.

Remuneration Panels on councillor allowances should be unpaid

In Wales councillors are paid a basic allowance of £13,300 – in Scotland it’s over £16,000.