A DROITWICH councillor has stepped up his one-man campaign against Government reforms by giving part of his councillor's allowance away.

Andrew Christian-Brookes is to hand a total of £100 to 10 Worcestershire people in protest at the Local Government Act, which led to Wychavon District Council's adopting a cabinet system.

Under the Act, old-style committees were replaced by an Executive Committee which covers community partnership, the environment, housing and economic development and resources and planning policy.

But the Tory councillor said the new system would cost more because of increased paperwork, as well as the "substantial" increase in allowance for each of the 49 councillors.

"I'm sure the Government's intention is to create the illusion of progress," he said.

"But, in reality, it's leading to confusion, demoralisation, inefficiency and a waste of the hard-earned money of those living in Wychavon.

"Not only were vast amounts of money used to set the new system up, but it also showered councillors and officers with volumes of bureaucratic paperwork and endless meetings with no real results at the end.

"To add insult to injury, the money is being used to pay an increased allowance to all councillors.

"My monthly allowance went up £90 this month from £160 to £250, which is a substantial increase."

Two weeks ago, the councillor launched his campaign by attending the official transition to the cabinet system, which was carried out at the council's annual meeting on Tuesday, May 7, dressed as someone from Monty Python's Ministry of Silly Walks.

During the next two weeks, he will hand £10 to five people living in his Lovett ward, as well as £10 to five people living in wards with elected Labour and Liberal Democrat members.

The recipients will be picked by matching a randomly-drawn raffle ticket to the electoral register.

"Many of my constituents will not have received such a large increase in their wages," added the councillor.

"It's my intention to object to this absurd situation by refunding all of my allowance increase."