BURY councillors could soon vote themselves pensions, just months after pocketing a 50 per cent "pay" rise.

They could shortly be allowed to join the Local Government pension Scheme (LGPS) in a move which might cost local taxpayers £50,000 a year.

The recommendation has come from Bury's independent remuneration panel -- the same one which advocated the hike in members' allowances -- but it will be up to councillors to decide whether to go along with its findings.

Mr Colin Smith, panel chairman, says in a report: "It (the panel) feels that this will assist the council in attracting and retaining (subject to re-election) members from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups.

"The panel feels that such a move will assist in attracting those for whom council service could threaten a loss of career opportunity, loss of income and thereby future pension entitlement."

The panel is recommending that all councillors under the age of 70 should be eligible to join the LGPS from July 1 next year.

Their basic allowances and special responsibility allowances would be counted as remuneration under the scheme, which would require a six per cent contribution from individual councillors. It will cost Bury £50,000 a year if all councillors buy into the scheme, but the panel thinks this is unlikely.

The panel's recommendation is to be discussed on Thursday, September 25, by Bury Council's standards committee, which consists of co-opted members as well as councillors. It will then be debated by full council on November 5.

THE four-strong independent remuneration committee comprises: Colin Smith OBE (chairman), former chief executive of Oldham Council; Gloria Oates OBE, former chief executive of Oldham NHS Trust and chairman of Oldham Council's standards committee; Ronald Schwarz, former head teacher and chairman of Bury District CAB services; and James Sherry, retired civil servant with the Inland Revenue.