A “radical” proposal to cap councillors' allowances at £27,000 was rejected despite support from Halstead town councillors.

Town councillor Michael Gage who also sits on Braintree council declared his support for the limit which would affect councillors who sit on both Braintree Council and Essex County Council.

Green Party district councillor James Abbot raised the proposal at a Braintree Council meeting on Wednesday ***23 feb*** and claimed the move could save taxpayers upto £50,000 per year.

Braintree Council leader Graham Butland said on paper it looked appealing but contested the benefit to Braintree Council saying most of the money would be saved by the county council.

See this week's Halstead Gazette for the full story.