COUNCILLORS in Hyndburn will see their allowances rocket by 20 times the rate of inflation if they accept the recommendations of an independent commission.

The basic allowance will go up from £2,000 to £3,000 and the new Labour leader, Ian Ormerod, will pick up £12,000 a year.

The members of the panel said "pay" should go up by half because their workload had significantly increased.

The new Hyndburn Council, will have just 35 members instead of the previous 47.

The panel found that councillors were facing greater demands and were devoting significant amounts of time to council duties.

Nationally the average councillor allowance is £4,333. The average council leader's salary is £12,403.

The new management style, which involves a leader and cabinet rather that the old-style committees, was also reckoned to increase councillors' workloads.

The panel, made up of four education specialists and a businessman, recommended the council should continue to use the national minimum wage of £4.10 an hour, which means the basic allowance will be £3,000 -- rounded up from £2, 952.

It was previously rounded up to £2,000.

Meanwhile, the panel has set special responsibility allowances at £12,000 for Coun Ormerod and £6,000 for his deputy, CounJean Battle. Cabinet members will get £4,500.

A spokesman added: "We appreciate the sensitivity in introducing a new scheme and we have tried to be entirely objective in reaching our recommendations.

"They are based upon what we consider to be the proper level of remuneration."