Councillors get pay rise but look to complain further about ‘out of touch’ independent pay panel

Wrexham councillors are to receive an increase in their salaries from April, although will be voicing their displeasure at the pay award.

However in a show of cross-party unity, it was unanimously agreed that a collective response from all 22 local authorities was needed so councillors instructed the Leader of the Council to instigate such feedback at the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA).

It comes off the back of a recommendation from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) that the basic and senior councillor salaries would increase from next month.

As part of its Annual Report the IRPW stated that basic salary for councillors would increase by £268 to £13,868 and by £800 for senior councillors.

In its report the IRPW stated that it has “consistently expressed its view that maintaining the democratic values of local governance cannot be cost free.”

But the decision has largely been met with opposition from members of Wrexham Council’s democratic services committee, who earlier this month spoke of their frustration at being ignored by the panel branding it out of touch and a waste of time.

At the end of 2018 a majority of committee members voted in favour of expressing their disappointment at the IRPW’s proposals during a consultation period.

However there was a sense of exasperation earlier this month, with councillors questioning if it is even worth discussing the panel’s proposals in future years due to their feedback against pay increases being continually ignored.

Speaking at yesterday’s meeting, leader of the council, Cllr Mark Pritchard reiterated that members who do not wish to take the pay rise need to write to the head of finance. We are aware that a number of councillors publicly explain they choose to forgo the pay rise, either donating the money to charity or keeping it in the council’s coffers.

Cllr Dana Davies, leader of the labour group, said the IRPW is “out of step with what is happening with pay and salaries in Wales – as well as the austerity agenda we are currently on.”

As a result Cllr Davies said she would be putting forward an amendment to yesterday’s report and requested that the leader of the council makes representations to the WLGA and band together with other councils for a collective response to the panel.

Cllr Carrie Harper, seconded the amendment and added that the Plaid Cymru group have refused pay rises since 2017 so the money can stay in the council pot.

She added that it is “not hard to understand why people find it hard to stomach” when they find out councillors are getting pay rises at the same time council tax is increasing, saying there is ‘growing anger’.

In a rare moment in a full council meeting – particularly in terms of councillor pay – the recommendation received unanimous cross-party support and was voted through.

Previously Wrexham.com has had complaints when we have reported that councillors have raised their hands to vote through pay rises, as it is always pointed out that votes are to ‘note’ reports rather than accept, with regular readers aware we have long pondered what would happen if no hands rose.

The amendment was ‘put to the vote’ with those ‘in favour’ asked to raise their hands, which was done by all councillors. The amendment became part of the substantive motion and had a similar request for ‘all those in favour’ to raise their hands, which again was done unanimously.