A COUNCIL leader who saw his group vote for a 70 per cent "pay" rise today insisted: "You're still getting us on the cheap."

The pay shake-up came as policy committee members struggled to balance the budget, with massive savings, cut-backs and possible service cuts for the town.

It means cash allowances paid to councillors in a full year will rocket from the present £52,000 to £88,000 -- with council leader Stuart Caddy expecting to see his expenses more than double from £2,400 to £5,400. Opposition leader Harry Brooks slammed the rises and told Coun Caddy: "You are robbing the people of Burnley -- they will judge you."

But Coun Caddy told him the cost of councillors amounted to less than a one per cent rise in council tax.

"That is just 3p per week and if you don't think we are worth 3p a week it is time to wrap up." The rise - the first in 12 years in Burnley - was also defended by finance chairman Peter Kenyon who said it was still very significantly less than the amounts recommended by an independent commission in Burnley two years' ago.

Finance chairman Coun Kenyon said Burnley would be still be near the bottom of the councillors' pay league in Lancashire - with only Ribble Valley and Hyndburn members receiving less.

He added: "It will cost just £1 per head for every citizen in Burnley to run a democratic council and I submit that democracy comes cheap at the price." Telephone expenses in Burnley have been abolished and the cost of the new scheme in he coming year from May to April 2002 will be £28,000.

Full allowances are as follows: All 48 councillors will receive £1,200 per annum. Additional special responsibility allowances: Leader of council, £2,400; deputy leader £1,200; party group leaders £600 each; inner cabinet members -- nine at £1,800 each; committee chairmen, seven at £1,200 each; committee vice-chairmen, seven at £600 each.