WEYMOUTH councillors agreed to make no change to their allowance after a fiery debate.

During the first full town council meeting of the decade on Wednesday, councillors were asked whether they would recommend a change in the current amount.

The current allowance is £1,000 per councillor per year, but the maximum allowed for a council of Weymouth's size in terms of population is £1,300.

Councillors clashed over the issue, with Cllr Graham Lambert questioning the need for an allowance.

He said: "I'm concerned that we are taking any allowance to be honest. I certainly didn't join the council to gain an allowance. I joined the council in the hope that I could achieve something."

He added that the council should possibly consider alternatives to allowances, such as an expenses system.

However, Cllr Tia Roos passionately stressed the importance of allowances, saying that the system enables people from different sections of society to be represented.

She said: "There are people that need to have a voice in this council. There needs to be a demographic that isn't just the privileged.

"That's why we have an allowance, because some of us are in poverty."

Cllr Christine James also spoke in favour of allowances, stating that the money is helpful for councillors that are self employed.

Cllr Tony Ferrari said: "I don't think that's a lot of money but I don't think we should put up the allowances.

"There's too many of us in this room and we are taking too much of their [residents] money at this point in time.

"I would be much more willing to support any increase if it came with a reduction in councillors."

Cllr Ann Weaving said: "I would like to vote for no change because then we are giving up an increase to help the town and its people."

Councillors decided that members' allowances for 20/21 will be £1,000 per member per annum. With 26 councillors in attendance, 25 voted in favour of this and one councillor abstained.