BURNLEY councillors will decide how much to increase their allowances by next week.

An independent remuneration panel has suggested increasing the basic allowance from £1,200 to £2,000 with big increases for special responsibilities.

But the council executive is recommending much lesser rises with just a £48 increase in the basic allowance.

The executive is also recommending that the council leader's supplement should increase from £2,400 to £4,993 (independent panel's recommendation £8,000); deputy supplement from £1,200 to £1,248 (£2,000), other group leaders from £600 to £624 (£1,000), executive members from £1,800 to £1,872 (£3,000), committee chairmen £1,200 to £1,248 (£2,000) and vice-chairmen £600 to £624 (£1,000).

The final decision will be taken by the full council which meets on Wednesday.