Councillors in Hertsmere have accepted a recommendation to keep their annual allowances at the same level - despite being "significantly in excess of those paid elsewhere".

Hertsmere Borough Council's Independent Remuneration Panel published a report earlier this year of how much money councillors were entitled to claim every year, and found allowances were "very high".

Currently, John Graham, leader of the council, currently receives an allowance in excess of £27,000 a year - more than double the annual payment to the leader of Three Rivers District Council.

Furthermore, councillors with extra responsibilities, such as for environment or housing, earn on average £9,000 a year more than their counterparts in Three Rivers and £5,000 more than councillors in Dacorum.

However, the report recommended that the structure of payments should stay the same.

Councillors accepted the recommendation at a full council meeting last week, although Labour councillor, Di Hoeksma, did question the recommendation.

Councillor Hoeksma asked the council: "I wonder how we justify it to our Council Tax payers how we get bigger allowances than other councils.

"We definitely pay ourselves more than neighbouring authorities, so how do we justify this?"

Responding, Councillor Graham, said: "Looking at the figures, there are councils within this district that have allowances bigger than ours, but it is something that the Remuneration Panel is looking at."