The proposed increase to councillors’ pay is less than an independent body, tasked with looking at members’ pay, recommends.

Councillors’ pay in Camden could rise by 2per cent as the council looks to review the allowances available for members.

At the meeting on Tuesday night, it was decided to go forward with a measure to increase the level of pay in line with the national cost of living increase in the local government pay settlement.

Camden currently uses the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) to decide whether to increase pay.

A potential 2pc increase would mean leader Georgia Gould’s pay would increase to £39,924.

The proposed amount is significantly lower than the IRP’s suggested amount of £68,130.

Pay would also increase for councillors and council members who have a defined role. This includes scrutiny chairs, whips, and the leader of the opposition.

The proposal was announced on the same night a council tax rise of 4.99pc was passed, and more funding was set aside for council-funded police, support staff and safer streets workers.

Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Marshall, who previously lead the Conservative group on the council, backed the raise.

He said: “This council at some point has to significantly increase the amount of pay for the leader of the council and the cabinet.

“Unless you pay people taking core political responsibility more, you won’t get the diversity you need in London.”

Conservative Hampstead Town councillor Oliver Cooper told the meeting he wouldn’t be accepting any rise, if it is granted.

The increase would come into place at the start of the next financial year, on April 1.