CHERWELL district councillors voted to increase their allowances while passing the authority’s first council tax increase for a decade.

Its 48 councillors will see their annual allowances increase by £108 to £4,392.

At the same meeting on Monday, all councillors voted to increase council tax by £5. Residents in Band D properties will now pay £128.50 a year.

But Labour’s group leader Sean Woodcock said after the meeting: "Having voted to increase residents' council tax out of apparent necessity, it is frankly staggering that the Conservatives voted to increase their own allowances.

“Asking residents to put their hand in their pockets while councillors pocket more shows an authority that is out of touch."

Mr Woodcock and his group did not give reasons for their opposition to hiking allowances during Monday's meeting.

The authority’s leader Barry Wood said he suspected ‘the reasoning will become clear in a leaflet near you soon’.

Cherwell councillors' allowances remain the lowest of all Oxfordshire's district councils.

Mr Wood and Mr Woodcock’s allowances as group leaders will both increase.

As leader of the council, Mr Wood’s allowance will increase by £192 to £7,476. Mr Woodcock’s leader of the opposition post will increase by £72 to £3,012. Other allowances, such as for food, won't rise.