Councillor pay could rise by 16.9% in ‘significant reset’ to encourage more candidates for May 2022 elections

Candidates who are elected in 206 days time to be a Wrexham Councillor would earn a basic salary of £16,800 if new proposals are taken forward, in a move that has been described as a ‘significant reset’ to attract a diverse range of people choosing to stand.

As we have much-documented, the pay increases are set by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) and their ‘determinations’ are passed to Councils who are obligated to carry them out (the debate on if you can opt out or not, and if it is voted on, has been a hot topic here and in Flintshire).

With the local council elections next year the suggestions from Wrexham councillors back in 2019 to raise the pay appears to have been taken onboard. Back then the members of the council’s democratic services committee came out in favour of an increase amid fears poor pay could limit the candidate pool of those wanting to take on the role.

In the feedback letter the council sent to the pay panel suggesting a 2% rather than 2.5% increase they said: “At the meeting, members recognised that in order to encourage those considering standing for election in the future, the remuneration for members needs to be sufficient to attract a diverse range of candidates.”

As detailed publicly for the current 2021/22 year councillors currently get an annual basic salary of £14,368. A range of extra positions are entitled to extra cash on top of the basic salary, such as those with senior salaries like the Leader of the Council (£49,974), Deputy Leader (£35,320) and Executive Board members (£30,773). Scrutiny, Licensing and Planning chair positions (£23,161), leading the largest opposition group (£23,161) the Mayor (£23,161) and Deputy Mayor (£18,108) also are entitled to receive sums at the moment.

In the new draft report by the IRPW looking to 2022/23 they explain the relevance of the elections to their new draft determinations: “2022 is an election year for local government and the new five year term provides the opportunity to reset the basic salaries of elected members to align with the average earnings in Wales.

“This has been eroded in successive years, primarily as a result of austerity measures. We consider that it is important that the payments to elected members of principal councils be fair and at a level that is not a disincentive to potential candidates for election.”

They add in the report: “Levels of remuneration need to be set at a level sufficient to encourage a diversity of willing and able people to undertake local governance through elected, appointed or co-opted roles. It is important to promote a culture which encourages take up of remuneration to ensure that people from all walks of life can participate confidently in our democracy.”

The ‘erosion’ of pay is detailed: “Since 2009, remuneration of elected members of local government in Wales has not kept pace with measures of inflation or other possible comparators.”

Local elections next year is a key theme throughout the report, with the hope that a wider range of people put themselves forward on the ballot paper, allowing post-election analysis of its impact: “Members in these 22 principal councils will receive, proportionately, the same as the overall average amount that a Welsh constituent received in 2020.

“We believe this puts a fair value on the contribution made by local politicians.

“We hope that over time this will encourage greater diversity and enable potential candidates to consider putting themselves forward for election.”

The panel appear to still stand by their view in 2009 that the average work commitment of an elected councillor was three working days, and use that for a basis for working out what pay should be compared to wider average wages.

The current £14,368 basic salary is suggested to increase by 16.9% to £16,800.

The proposed increases are not just limited to the basic pay of councillors, but a range of senior and other salaries.

The ‘highly complex’ role of Leader of the Council “carries a large and increasing level of responsibility” with the panel saying they are “…very concerned that the current payment levels are often financially unattractive and are seen as a barrier to participation. For many willing and well-qualified people, a senior salary might necessitate a significant reduction in earnings. This is not in the spirit of diversity, inclusion, or democracy, or efficient for the effective running of principal councils.”

As part of the ‘reset’ locally the current £49,974 Leader role would see an increase of 13.4% to £56,700. The Deputy Leader would go up 12.3%  from £35,320 to£ 39,690

Executive Board members would go up 10.6% from £30,773 to £34,020

Committee Chairs would go from £23,161 to £25,593, an increase of 10.5% – with the same increase for the leader of the largest opposition group, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The stipulation that an opposition group leader or any other group leader must represent at least 10% of the council membership before qualifying for a senior salary remains unchanged.

The cap of 18 senior salaries remains for Wrexham Council as a ‘Group B’ council, decided on population size. There are no mentions or reappearance of sub-levels in the current draft report, something that has allowed local discretion historically.

The panel’s report also gives context to the rise, noting from 2013 to 2020 the basic salary a Senedd Cymru member’s salary increased by 28.6% (£53,852 to £69,272) and an MP’s salary increased by 23.4% (£66,396 to £81,932). Likewise they note councillors in Scotland receive £18,604 a year and in 2018 councillors in Northern Ireland received £15,486. 

You can make your views known by emailing [email protected] by the 26th of November. The final annual report will be published in February, which historically rarely has any major changes compared to the draft report.

Following previous years it is likely the draft proposals will be debated in the coming months by local councillors, the pay ‘determination’ (not previously a recommendation) will be firmed up and then ‘noted’ at a council meeting next year.