Opposition councillors in Wiltshire Council have arranged an extraordinary meeting to reverse a decision to award cabinet members allowance increases of 22%.

A group of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent group councillors have organised a meeting on 4 February in an attempt to overturn the decision made by an independent panel last November.

Wiltshire's ruling Conservative group has defended the increases, claiming elected cabinet members are now effectively working 60-hour weeks since a management restructure saw the chief executive and a whole swathe of senior posts cut.

Wiltshire leader, Cllr Jane Scott, has received a 37.5% hike in her allowances – nearly half of which is because of a new role overseeing the health and wellbeing board.

In contrast, backbench councillors have received a mere 1% increase to allowances.

Cllr Scott said she ‘had a responsibility to whoever followed me' to accept the pay rise.

Leader of Wiltshire's Labour group, Cllr Ricky Rogers said support to try and reverse the decision was increasing daily.

‘There are splits appearing in the Conservative group on the council, and it's clear that some members of the Conservative group are uncomfortable about the increases which see the cabinet receive increases of up to 37%,' Cllr Rogers said.