THE independent panel on allowances says the council should consider publishing an annual record of councillors attendance at training events as well as attendance at meetings. The panel says it has worked out that the average time commitment of ordinary

THE independent panel on allowances says the council should consider publishing an annual record of councillors' attendance at training events as well as attendance at meetings.

The panel says it has worked out that the average time commitment of ordinary councillors is 35 hours per month, compared to 31 hours three years ago.

That is one reason for recommending an increase but it believes the public is entitled to know what training councillors undertake, level of attendance, and level of constituent satisfaction with ward councillors.

The panel noted that the new, inflation-linked, figure for Fenland was higher than the £3,515 average paid by the other four district councils in Cambridgeshire. But, when compared to neighbouring King's Lynn and South Holland councils, the average rises to £3,651.

Throughout the south east of England, the average basic allowance is £3,027.