A MAJORITY of Conservative and Labour councillors voited in favour of a controversial pay rise for senior officers.

The decision was made at last week's meeting of the full council when the recommendation to increase pay for assistant directors and directors was put before members.

Councillors voted 25 for the four per cent award with five against and six recorded absentions. A number of members declined to express their opinion.

Senior members of the council, who serve on its General Services Committee, had initially voted against any pay increase for managers on six figure incomes following management decisions which have led the council to virtual bankruptcy.

Officers then advised councillors a pay freeze could lead to a legal challenge because the council was contractually bound to implement the increase recommended by a pay review panel.

At the full council meeting Cllr John Kent, leader of the Labour Group, said: "I'm disappointed that we've ended up in the position we've ended up in. The general services committee originally voted unanimously for a pay freeze.

"I have absolutely no pleasure or enthusiasm in saying I don't think we have any alternative but to agree with the recommendations."

There were, however, councillors who were against awarding the rise - despite the legal advice.

Cllr Luke Spillman, Conservative councillor for Ockendon, said officers had failed to show moral leadership and added: "I regard this pay increase as an absolute disgrace.

"This chamber together with the collective body of senior management bankrupted this council and the idea that that body can award itself or expect a 4 per cent pay increase, I think is a shocking lack of awareness, a shocking inability to read the room.

"Senior management had the chance to show some moral leadership on this and failed. Soon you are going to be coming to councillors, whether that be the Labour Group or our group talking about the need for us to make tough choices that are going to disadvantage our residents. Well you had a tough choice to make as a body and you weren't willing to take it."

Cllr Neil Speight, Independent councillor for Stanford-le-Hope West added: "Does any councillor here really believe that 27 senior officers of the council who take home salary packages in six figures deserve a backdated pay boost after the failure of this council?"

Fionance portfolio holder, Conservative Graham Snell, said there would be a future review of senior managers' pay awards,

He added: "I can understand some of the anger that's going around. The problem we've got is that it not every single officer that bankrupted this place.

"Do we want to be the council that decides every time something goes wrong we decide we're not going to follow the rule of law, we're going to do what the hell we want to do every irrespective of what the law says we have to do? I don't think we want to be that council."