Thurrock council officers have been given a 2 per cent wage rise.

The settlement was agreed by councillors at a Budget meeting on Wednesday night.

The decision was criticised by some Labour and Thurrock Independents members who said senior officers on more than £100,000 would receive a salary rise greater than some people earn in a month.

Thurrock Independents Councillor Jack Duffin, for Stanford East and Corringham Town, asked fellow members: “Why is this even on an agenda when I have no say on it? Why are staff earning £100,000 a year getting a 2 per cent pay rise to staff?

“So many of our residents are struggling and aren’t getting a pay rise. I want to recommend a 1 per cent rise. Why can’t I do that? Why are we not allowed to vote on it?”

Councillor Deborah Huelin, cabinet member for performance and services, explained that councillors had previously agreed to accept recommendations on pay rises from market assessors, which meant there was no flexibility in awarding pay rises.

The member for Corringham and Fobbing said: “That was agreed in this room. The chamber decided to go with independent market assessments.”

Other members suggested that senior officers could be placed on short term contracts to avoid large pay offs and pay awards in the future.

But ruling conservatives rejected the idea, insisting that they needed to ‘keep good managerial staff’.

Conservative Councillor Mark Coxshall, for Chafford and North Stifford, claimed short term contracts were not cost effective as he insisted staff accrued the same employment rights after two years.

He said: “Short term contracts sound good, but the Urban Development Agency staff still got enormous pay offs.”

Council leader Rob Gledhill added: “We value people who work in this council.”

The recommendation was passed, and council mayor Tunde Ojetola congratulated all staff on their salary rise.