Councillor Pay Increase: “We Do Not Want This Rise”

Councillors have again reacted angrily that the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) is ‘forcing’ an increase in pay upon them.

As we have previously reported councillors have discussed a forthcoming pay increase, which would see newly-elected and returning members have their pay increased after the May 2017 elections.

Overall it is proposed that there is an ‘increase of £100 (0.75%) in the Basic Salary to £13,400’. The report continues on to note that ‘this is the first increase for three years and follows the slight easing of restraint in the pay of public sector employees’.

Overall Remuneration Implications would be:-

• Basic Salary (34 Councillors) was £13,300 now up to £13,400
• Leader  was £48,000 now up to £48,100
• Deputy Leader was £33,500 now up to £33,600
• Lead Members (8 Councillors) was £29,000 now up to £29,100
• Chairs (7 Councillors) was £22,000 now up to £22,100
• Leader of the Largest Opposition Group was £22,000 now up to £22,100

The topic was once again on the agenda at yesterday’s Democratic Services Committee, with councillors voicing their frustration about Independent Renumeration Panel (IRPW) not listening to their feedback.

Cllr Lloyd Kenyon related a meeting he has recently attended with the IRPW, along with representatives from Wrexham Council and other local authorities across Wales. He said: “They gave a presentation and listened to the views from Local Authorities, which were often at odds with them. They went away determined that their views were right, and our views were wrong.”

Such distain for the IRPW carried on through yesterday’s meeting with the public view on councillors getting pay rises, perhaps even more sensitive with the elections only a few weeks away, being at odds with the technical realities of the situation.

As we have documented previously the pay award is made independently by the IRPW, and Wrexham Council as an entity is obliged to follow what it recommends. This creates an odd situation where pay reports are taken before councillors themselves to be ‘noted’ with raised hands, yet they themselves cannot reject the pay award as a group.

Councillors today spoke about their frustrations on the increase of £100, and previous increases, however were told twice they could write individually to the Finance Officer of Wrexham Council to refuse it if they so wish. Back in 2014 we thought it would be interesting to discover who had taken up that option – and discovered one Councillor had.

Others stated that they, and their political groups, take various pay awards however then donate that money to charity.

Cllr Bernie McCann angrily pointed out that the Scrutiny Committee today was going over old ground,  stating: “We voted against this two or three meetings ago.

“My understanding is if we have to take it we have to take it, but we do not have to take it and can donate it.

“We want to make it clear to the public we do not want this rise, but the Officer is saying we have to take it.”

Both Cllr Kenyon, who was acting as chairman of the meeting, did observe: “You are entitled to do whatever you like with it.”

The Head of Democratic Services expanded that point, saying: “It is a matter for individual members on how they spend it. If you wish to forgo it you must write to the Head of Finance to say you do not want it. However you cannot direct it is spent elsewhere.”

Cllr Andrew Bailey enquired if there was a Council mandate for all councillors not to take a rise. However he was told it was only possible on an individual basis.

Cllr John Phillips and others wanted it noted in the minutes that the committee was ‘disappointed’ with the Panel’s decision.

Cllr Brian Cameron stated he and his group always donated such money to charities, but asked if individual Councillors did not take the money what would Wrexham Council use it for.

The Officer told the meeting that they were not part of the finance team so did not have the specifics, however would likely go ‘into the general coffers’.

One councillor joked that caution would have to be exercised as ‘it might find its way back to Cardiff!’.