A DENBIGHSHIRE councillor who opposed the recent rise in member’s allowances has committed to paying the extra money to charity.

Cllr Mabon ap Gwynfor last week proposed the increase be turn down, but this initiative was defeated by the overwhelming majority of the council’s members.

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales had determined an increase of 1.49 per cent to the basic salary for elected members of principal councils, to begin to address the erosion of the salary in relation to average earnings. This would take the basic salary to £13,600.

However Cllr ap Gwynfor said: “Last week the full council approved the increase for councillors, which means a pay rise of £200 a year. I opposed last year's increase of £100 as well.

“I think it is wrong we should be asked to approve a pay rise when we have seen services cut and council jobs lost.”

He added: “More than a quarter of the council’s workforce is paid less than the real living wage as calculated by the Living Wage Foundation. Considering this I thought it was wrong we accept the pay rise.

“We can’t actually refuse it as it just paid to us like it or not, as it has been decided by an independent panel of the Welsh Government.

"But I do think someone needs to make a stand and show leadership, particularly at a time when the Welsh Government is asking us to deliver more services with less funding, with year on year cuts. I think we should show solidarity with council tax payers and council employees.”

He added: “While I can’t technically refuse the pay increase I intend giving it to charity and good causes in my ward.”