Councillors in Brent have approved plans to increase their basic allowance by 25 per cent – while services are being cut across the borough.

Proposal to raise the payments for all 63 councillors from £7,974 to £10,000 were voted through this evening.

The additional allowances paid to members of the cabinet including the leader of the council will also been increased.

The hike in the basic allowances will cost taxpayers an extra £127,638 a year while £53million worth of cuts will take place in the borough over the next 24 months.

The council claim the allowance increases, which come in to force next June, will be funded from existing budgets.

More to come.