COUNCILLORS have awarded themselves a one per cent pay rise which will come into place in June this year.

The decision to increase the basic salary to £16,893 and leader's pay to £33,789 was made at a meeting on Thursday, May 12.

Local councillors want to assure members of the public they are paying their share in tax and donating money to individual charities.

Cllr Bill Grant said: "We pay our tax and give to charity. This can be a UK organisation or the local hospital. I for one am not embarrassed to to take the increase and I don't think any one person should be."

Cllr Ian Cavana said: "We have wanted this increase and needed it for years. Don't want it don't take it. We don't have to make it a personal issue."

Cllr Alec Clark explained: "I am quite willing to go to the community and explain to them we pay our taxes along with them."

Cllr Nan McFarlane agreed: "There will be people out there who question us. There are some of us who do give slightly more to charity."

Members agreed to take the increase from June 13 this year.