PLANS to give district councillors a raise have been attacked by opposition groups.

The leading Health Concern group has proposed reinstating basic expenses for all 42 councillors to 2001 levels.

Last year the allowances were cut as part of £3 million worth of budget cuts. Reinstating the expenses to pre-cuts levels would give all councillors a rise in basic allowances of £400 to £2,750.

Special responsibility allowances, which currently range from £375 to £3,700 and are paid to portfolio holders and other leading councillors, will double to their previous levels of between £750 and £7,400.

Councillor Fran Oborski, whose husband Mike, a fellow councillor, was in charge when allowances were slashed last year, said the increases - which together will cost about £50,000 - were "a disgrace".

"Any available cash should be going to fund taxi tokens for pensioners, rather than lining councillors' pockets."

But she added she would not refuse the rise if it won majority support, although she would ensure it was spent appropriately to "do good".

"I hope it does not come to that and that the majority of councillors will oppose the rise."

Councillor Jamie Shaw, leader of the Labour group, said: "The proposal to increase by £50,000 comes despite a recent council decision not to put them up. Not surprisingly, this budget option is not to be put to the public."

The planned increases are still below figures recommended by an independent panel, a basic allowance of £4,100 and special responsibility allowances of between £1,000 and £10,000.

The proposals must be approved by full council on February 26 before coming into force.