EACH of Redditch's 29 councillors will receive an annual basic allowance of £2,500.

Council Leader and executive committee chairman David Cartwright will also receive a £5,000 special responsibility allowance.

Deputy leader and executive committee vice-chairman Phil Mould will have an additional £3,500, while executive members - Andrew Fry, Mark Shurmer, Ken Kenney, Gavin Smithers, Diane Thomas and Pat Wilson - will receive £2,000.

Opposition group leaders Gavin Smithers and Diane Thomas will have an extra £1,000.

The executive committee agreed the allowances after recommendations from an independent panel of non-elected members.

The panel also called for all councillors to be given IT equipment, including a laptop computer and mobile phone.

The allowances will be reviewed in November to coincide with budget setting and annually after that.