A row has broken out over councillor allowances after Labour claimed they will be frozen thanks to their members’ refusal to back a rise.

The Labour group claims that under proposals supported by the Conservatives, the basic allowance of £10,597 would have climbed by at least £448 this year and risen in line with inflation in subsequent years.

According to Labour, that would cost the council tax payer nearly £113,000 over the four-year municipal term.

But the Conservatives have denied the claims.

An increase linked to local government staff pay awards for allowances across all bands was originally recommended in the London Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel report earlier this year.

This was discussed at the March 6 budget meeting, but a decision was postponed until after the local elections on May 3.

Labour leader Barry Rawlings said that, following the elections, Conservative council leader Richard Cornelius told him the Tories would accept the increase to allowances if Labour councillors did the same.

But Labour members made the unanimous decision to oppose any increase in allowances at their annual general meeting.

In fact, Labour councillors proposed cutting the annual overall spend on allowances by £112,084 in their budget amendment in March – a measure that would have saved the council almost £450,000 over four years.

Cllr Rawlings said: “We believe in putting local residents first and have rejected this proposal on principle. Any available extra money should go towards local services not into councillors’ wallets.

“I am disappointed that the Conservatives wanted to propose this, but not at all surprised. I have written to cllr Cornelius to advise him of our decision.”

Leader of Barnet Council Richard Cornelius responded: “As cllr Rawlings thought he would be leader of the Council by now, it would have been unfair to make any decision about members’ allowances before the election. Likewise, it would have been discourteous of me not to raise the issue after the election without first speaking to Cllr Rawlings.

“Although members’ allowances have not been adjusted for six years, there is no Conservative proposal to raise them, now or in the near future. Perhaps, as Labour councillors enter their 17th year of opposition, they do not have the work to justify one.”