City councillors are considering paying themselves pensions on top of their basic and special allowances.

Brighton and Hove City Council's policy committee will debate the idea, which could cost upwards of £78,000, at a meeting next Wednesday.

An independent panel recommended last year councillors should be able to join the Local Government pension Scheme.

The council decided not to do anything at that time.

Instead it deferred a decision for consultation with all 54 members to work out the costs and the likely take-up.

Some 40 councillors have said they want to join a pension scheme and 11 do not while three are over 70 and not eligible.

The total cost for the authority's contributions next year, if three-quarters of councillors took up the offer, would be more than £78,000.

The independent panel said many councillors had lost pension entitlement from their jobs by giving up time to serve their areas.

In a report it added: "We support the argument giving pension rights to councillors could assist in recruiting people of working age as councillors."

Last year the council agreed the basic annual allowance should rise from £8,000 to £10,195.

Many councillors also get special responsibility allowances. The highest goes to council leader Ken Bodfish and totals more than £26,000.

These allowances would also be eligible for pensions.

The total amount paid to councillors in allowances - about £800,000 - has not risen because the number of members has been cut from 78 to 54.

Most ordinary councillors work about 28 hours a week while those with special responsibilities work more.