PROPOSALS to offer extra money to attract candidates to two key City of York Council posts have been thrown out.

Members of the Staffing Matters & Urgency Committee voted 3-2 against paying “market supplements” to a new director and an assistant director of adult services.

Labour cabinet member for finance, Cllr Dafydd Williams, had said the salary for senior directors in York was well below the “going rate” for directors of adult social care across the country, and York would be sold short if it did not attract the right person by paying enough.

But Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Keith Aspden said increased pay levels through market supplements could not be justified with frontline services being cut for residents.

“Other options to recruit and retain staff, such as a greater use of performance related pay need to be considered,” he said, adding that a salary of up to £102,000 should be more than enough to attract the right candidates.