The OPPOSITION Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly Council has backed a move to reject a suggested 1% rise in councillors’ allowances from next April.

The Labour leader of the authority has urged all councillors to forego the 1% rise proposed by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

Councillor Colin Mann, who leads the Party of Wales group, has urged top officers who were given substantial rises last year to also make a gesture.

Cllr Mann said: “The Plaid group is prepared to support the rejection of the 1% suggested increase in councillors' allowances, in recognition of the poor economic situation affecting so many of our constituents. In fact, we had discussed this matter in a recent group meeting.