CAERPHILLY councillors voted to freeze their allowances due to the current financial climate.
In a move expected to save the council around £40,000, they rejected the recommended 2.5 percent increase in basic allowance.
All parties supported Plaid’s proposal on the grounds it was inappropriate for elected representatives to increase their own allowances when people in the county borough were losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet.
The maximum basic allowance for 2009/10 will remain at £13,030 despite the Independent Runumeration Panel for Wales’ recommendation it rise to £13,356 in line with the AssemblyÕs pay inflation guidelines.
A five percent increase in childcare allowance was also rejected and remains at £384 a month.
The council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for constitutional affairs, Plaid’s Allan Pritchard, proposed the freeze at a full council meeting on Tuesday, which was supported by all political parties.
He said councillors could not justify increasing their allowances while Caerphilly was suffering from the impact of the economic downturn.
He said: "We recognise that councillors today provide a vital service in their local community and should receive an appropriate allowance to reflect their hard work and commitment, but this is the right decision to take in the current economic climate."
He added: "We have a duty to serve the people of the Caerphilly county borough and put their best interests first."
Although a recorded vote was not taken, a show of hands reflected overwhelming support for the freeze.
The leader of the Independents, councillor Kevin Etheridge, said: "This is the correct decision because a rise in allowances would be totally unacceptable in the present climate."
Labour’s deputy leader, councillor Gerald Jones, said: "I think it’s one of those rare occasions when we have a unanimous council decision."
