A CONFIDENTIAL report by Hounslow Council’s leader John Chatt, in which he recommends giving himself a pay rise of more than 100 per cent, has had to be temporarily withdrawn, after it caused outrage at a meeting of the Labour party.

According to council figures, for 2002/03 Council Leader, Cllr Chatt received a total of £9,529.60 in allowances, the highest figure within the council, while Deputy Leader, Cllr Ellar claimed £8,478.38.

But under Cllr Chatt’s new proposals, the leader of the council would have awarded himself between £21,250 - £24,300, an increase of more than 100 per cent in special responsibility allowances and the Deputy leader, Cllr Ellar would have received a substantial rise to between £11,400 - £14,750.

For the majority of members, their basic allowances of £6,787 - £7,404 for 2002/03, and this would have risen to £7,605 - £8,250.

The proposals were withdrawn by Cllr Chatt after the meeting of the Labour group on Monday night. Members present said that the proposal had been met with almost zero support.

The matter has now been referred by Cllr Chatt as a matter of urgency to a panel made of one of each of the area committees and will be chaired by the Mayor.

Vanessa Smith, Chair of The Isleworth Ward Labour Party, was livid over the proposals: "I think they are an absolute disgrace. When I heard about this crass and stupid proposal, it beggars belief, it’s so insensitive. One minute they can’t keep [threatened care home] John Aird House open, the next they give themselves a huge great pay rise."

She continued: "They are just the giddy limit. The blame has to lay fairly and squarely with the leadership, I just can’t imagine how anybody could be so stupid - cretinous almost. They are hell bent on destroying themselves. They’ll have a hard time defending themselves to the labour party, let alone the electorate. It just adds insult to injury big time. They are Hounslow’s answer to ‘Dumb and Dumber’!"

Other labour group members were more cagey about the issue. A spokesperson for the labour group would not comment, while executive member Cllr Ruth Cadbury, said brusquely: "Labour group agenda is an issue for the labour group. It’s not in the public domain, so I have no comment. I’m not a good person to talk to about leaked documents."

Tory Councillor, Peter Thompson, added: "I can find little justification for this sort of massive pay increase. At a time when the residents of Hounslow are facing even greater Council Tax increases and reduction in services, it would be a bare-faced cheek for the Labour Executive to award themselves this sort of increase. No one in Hounslow voted for fat-cat local politicians but that's what we seem to be moving towards."

The news comes in the midst of a series of strikes by council workers over their pay conditions.