After news that Surrey County Council is to receive a 60% pay rise, leader David Hodge has said he has decided to accept a lower level of pay.

The leader and his deputy will take the level of pay recommended to him by the independent remuneration panel.

David Hodge says that he respects the decision on allowances but that he did not become a councillor for personal gain.

The allowance had not been reconsidered for 4 years and Councillor Hazel Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group says that the rise is a mistake.