ESSEX County Council's cabinet will take a 3 per cent cut in their special responsibility allowances, which will be frozen for the next four years.

The announcement is being made at today's full council meeting by Tory David Finch, who is expected to be elected council leader.

Mr Finch said: “It is important that residents know that we understand the difficulties and financial pressures that families are facing at this time and we want to send a clear message that as Essex Conservatives we stand with them and will reduce the Special Responsibility Allowance for cabinet members.

“All of the new team in the cabinet work extremely hard and put many hours every day into their individual portfolios representing the people of this great county but we all understand the financial squeeze everyone is under and we want to show practically that we mean business.

"Each cabinet member fully agrees with this decision and unanimously backs the move.”