TOWNSFOLK could determine how much Redditch Councillors get paid in allowances if plans to form a revolutionary panel are given the green light tonight.

A special meeting is taking place with 29 Redditch councillors at the town hall, which will see proposals put to the debate.

Councillors are currently paid about £17 for every meeting they attend but plans due to be introduced will see each councillor given an annual block payment.

Councillor David Cartwright said: "Over the next few months, we hope to set up an independent panel of people from around the town. Ideally, we would like a group of between six and 10.

"The panel will then look at individual councillors and how much they get paid and assess what they think councillors should and should not be getting."

The panel would be responsible for setting the annual allowance for councillors for the next three years.

Mr Cartwright said: "Initially, the panel would need to meet four or five times to set the figure, which will be different for certain councillors.

"For example the council leader's allowance will be different because he has special responsibilities.

"And there are also the chairs of the various committees."

Once the panel has decided on the annual allowance, which is currently about £2,000 a year, it will only need to meet every three years to perform a review.