AS Dudley Council shuts schools, libraries, museums and swimming pools around the borough, councillors agreed to give themselves a 25 per cent pay rise during a heated meeting of the full council on Monday.

As angry protesters from Unison and residents demonstrating against the proposed closure of Pensnett High School and Coseley Baths gathered on the council house steps, councillors voted to increase their allowances by nearly £2,000.

Forty-one councillors decided in favour of the rise, while 20 voted against. One member abstained.

The decision means the councillors will now receive a £9,300 basic allowance, which will be backdated from April 2009.

Councillors also passed an increase in special responsibility allowances, which will be paid to members with added responsiblity for the period 2010/11.

This allowance will be paid on top of the basic allowance, which all councillors receive.

Special responsibility allowances will be given to Council Leader Anne Millward, who will receive an additional £23,250, while Deputy Leader Les Jones will get £11,625 extra.

Cabinet members will each receive an additional £6,975.

Opposition group leader David Sparks will get £4,650, while Tim Wright, chairman of the development control committee will earn £6,975.

Colin Banks, vice-chairman of the committee, will receive £2,325.

Chairmen of area committee meetings and other committees, including the select committee, will each pick up an extra £4,650, with vicechairmen taking home £1,550.

The controversial decision followed a heated start to the meeting as angry protesters in the public gallery heckled and booed throughout the opening prayers and speeches.

The mayor, Pat Martin, suspended the meeting 30 minutes in, with police arriving 40 minutes later to clear the public out of the gallery.The council doors were then locked as councillors resumed the meeting.

Councillors said they agreed to the new rates to bring the council into line with other local authorities, which all pay higher allowances than Dudley.

Mr Sparks said: “I will vote for this motion without a shadow of a doubt so we will be in a much greater equilibrium with other councils and our own workforce.”

But there was debate over agreeing to special responsibility allowances, with councillors claiming they should take extra responsibility for the job role, not for the money.

Councillors also voiced concerns about being made to vote on their own remuneration, while others, including Councillor Angus Adams, said they would vote against it because of the current economic climate.