SOUTH Ribble Borough Council's top brass look set for a massive pay rise of up to 11 per cent in plans which will revolutionise local democracy.

Among the big winners in the local shake-up, which will involve replacing the complex committee system with one large council and a powerful 'cabinet' group, will be council leader Gina Lewis, whose allowances from the council are set to rocket.

During the financial year ending March 1999, Coun Lewis pocketed a total of £3,983.28 - £1,471.93 of which was for her role as leader of the council.

Under the new plans Coun Lewis will pick up £4,000 for being leader, in addition to £460 for being a councillor - a 11 per cent rise on what she earned last year.

And while attendance allowance will be scrapped, councillors will continue to pocket expenses. The title of deputy leader of the council will collect £2,500 on top of a basic rate, while the seven members of South Ribble's new elite cabinet will receive £2,000 each.

These pay rises, presented at the last meeting of the policy and resources committee, are part of the restructure which was designed to reduce voter apathy and get locals more involved in local government.

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of eight area committees, which are designed to get people involved at a grassroots level. However the spokesmen for these committees are guaranteed to receive £650 plus their basic allowance.

Meanwhile, spokesmen for the more powerful scrutiny, planning and standards committees, will pick up between £650 and £1,000.

Council leader Lewis defended the plans, saying: "Nobody goes into council to make money.

"Many people have to give up their jobs or suspend them for a while, as I did when I became leader. Others take sabbaticals to get the work done here in council.

"When I became a councillor I didn't expect to be paid. It is certainly not the reason why I became a councillor."

But one councillor, who asked not to be named, said: "We are not here to make money. The top brass could do well to remember that."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.