Last month the Chronicle & Echo reported members of Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council had voted to give themselves an allowance more than 500 per cent higher than the £750 a year recommended by an independent panel.

Members of the authority defended the £4,000 pay packet, but they have since been warned the decision could be challenged in the High Court.

The warning came from Ian Mark, senior legal executive for the National Association of Councils.

In a letter to the authority he said: "The council's decision to pay £4,000 to its members exceeds the recommendation by a more than considerable margin.

"From what I can glean, the decision to pay that sum was not based on any actual survey of costs which members have incurred, but is an estimate only.

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"While the council does have some discretion to exceed the parish remuneration panel's recommendation it is arguable that to do so by some £3,250 and on face value without being able to justify the same is wholly unreasonable, and… the council will be at immediate risk of challenge.

"I would strongly urge the council to reconsider its decision as soon as possible."

Separate papers published by the parish council also suggests the council's share of the council tax should rise by 16.3 per cent.

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The inflation-busting increase has been defended by one of the councillors who was behind the £4,000 vote.

Councillor Andre Gonzalez de Savage, who is also a member of Northamptonshire County Council, said the parish councillors earned their money.

He said: "Nobody's going to make a huge amount of money out of £4,000. It's not enough to pay people's bills, just enough to cover some of the time they put into the area.

"It would be daft to think people are just on the council for the money, it's just not the case.

"We're very committed to the area and this is just a small amount to reward people for everything they do."

He also defended the 16.3 per cent council tax rise, adding: "That's not just for the allowances, it covers a huge amount of projects we're doing with the council like transporting elderly people around the area, looking at environmental schemes and putting in play areas."

wayne.bontoft@northantsnews.co.uk