Senior councillors already paid more than double their counterparts at other Norfolk councils for carrying out their roles have been criticised for accepting another increase in their allowances.
Committee chairmen at Breckland District Council - who receive a £12,000 special payment far above the county average - are among councillors in line to receive a 5pc increase in their basic allowance.
The Breckland increase comes weeks after the council announced it was putting up tax by nearly 5pc and at a time of pressure on household budgets due to inflation and bill rises.
The independent panel which set the allowance increase has denied that members have their "snouts in the trough" and argues it is well deserved because Breckland Council is particularly "well-run".
However, the increase for two highly-renumerated chairmen - whose £12,279 special responsibility allowance compares with an average of £5,000 for the same role at other district councils - has been criticised by other Breckland members.
Roger Atterwill, leader of the Independent and Green group, said: "The only justification for the pay rise is that this is a well-run council. I'm sure that all councils across Norfolk think they are well-run.
"How can we justify this increase to the general public when we are in a cost of living crisis? I don't know if this is a sense of entitlement or a lack of awareness."
The 5pc increase in the basic allowance was recommended by an independent panel, and has since been approved by the council.
All members will now receive a basic allowance of £6,100, up from £5,780, with this increase backdated to April last year.
It means that overall, the council has the fourth highest basic allowance of Norfolk's seven district councils.
But it is the fact that two highly-renumerated chairmen were included which has raised most eyebrows.
Nigel Wilkin, chairman of the planning committee, and Terry Jermy, chairman of the overview and scrutiny commission, each have a special responsibility allowance of more than £12,000.
This is the highest remuneration for these roles at any district council in the county.
The planning committee, which held 11 meetings last year, makes decisions on planning applications, whereas the overview and scrutiny commission, which held six meetings last year, acts as a watchdog and monitors the performance of the council.
While Mr Wilkin and Mr Jermy, who will be the Labour candidate in South West Norfolk at the next general election, will not see their special allowances increase, the rise in the basic allowance will give a boost to their take-home pay.
"This increase is in direct response to generally rising costs and the panel's desire to ensure that being a member remains financially accessible for as wide a range of people as possible."
Some members, including the chairman of the governance and audit committee and the deputy leader of the council, will receive an increase to their special responsibility allowance as well as their basic allowance.
Andrew Egerton-Smith, chairman of the independent review panel, said he dismissed the idea that a pay rise meant there were "snouts in the trough" of the council budget.
He added: "We see this authority as being entrepreneurial in all that it does. The outcomes achieved by Breckland are impressive.
"I know that some of the figures are above those paid by other Norfolk authorities, but I'm not sure that this is totally relevant. Breckland achieve good results and there are significant works and improvements taking place. That is why we think that these figures are equitable."
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WHAT ARE OTHER COUNCILLORS PAID?
Some Breckland councillors are among the best-remunerated in Norfolk.
Sam Chapman-Allen, its leader, receives an overall allowance of nearly £30,000. This compares to just over £20,000 allocated for Susan Holland, leader of similarly-sized Broadland District Council.
Carl Smith, leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, also takes home around £20,000, while Tim Adams, leader of North Norfolk District Council, is given less than £19,000 a year.
The special responsibility allowances at Breckland Council range from £23,119, for Mr Chapman-Allen, to £2,055, for the leaders of political groups that are not the main opposition.
Councillors do not have to accept their allowance and can choose to allocate it to local projects or other causes.
Harry Clarke, leader of the Labour group at Breckland Council, called for an in-depth review of some of the higher allowances paid to members.
He said: "We are mindful that councillors are also subject to cost of living pressures and therefore a small rise in the basic allowance is justified.
"There remain some fundamental issues with the special responsibility allowances. There is much more to do to encourage a more diverse range of candidates for election."
As leader of the opposition, Mr Clarke will be offered one of the largest pay increases. His special responsibility allowance is set to increase from less than £3,000 to more than £6,000 per year.
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