Pay rise of £150 a year for Wrexham councillors ‘easier to accept’ than previous increase

A pay rise of £150 a year for councillors in Wrexham is “easier to accept” than previous increases, a committee chair has said.

The uplift of just over one per cent would take the basic salary for each of the 52 members of Wrexham Council up to £14,368 with effect from April 1, 2021.

Those in senior positions would also be given the same percentage increase under proposals by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

However, the panel said a “modest increase” was required for councillors to prevent their salaries from falling behind.

Most members of the local authority’s democratic services committee appeared to agree with the recommendations.

Cefn councillor Derek Wright accused the panel of ignoring previous objections, but said it was up to individuals to decide what to do with the money when they receive it.

Speaking at a virtual meeting yesterday, he said: “We on this committee have been against the rises for years when we’re going through the austerity measures that we’ve suffered since I’ve been a councillor for the last eight years and before that.

“But I do feel it’s important that we’ve got three options with this extra payment.

“We can refuse to take it, we can take it and keep it or take it and give it to charity, which the Labour group does every year.

“I feel that the money should go to each councillor and they should decide what they want to do with that remuneration.

“It’s no good debating this again and again. We decided two years ago we weren’t going to write to the Remuneration Panel for Wales anymore because they don’t listen to us.”

The changes would boost the council leader’s pay up by £524 to just under £50,000 per year, with the deputy leader earning an additional £370 at £35,320,

Meanwhile, executive board members would receive £30,600 for carrying out their duties, committee chairs and the opposition leader would earn £23,068, with £23,161 allocated for the mayor’s role.

Democratic services chair Malcolm King defended the panel and claimed they had listened to politicians before making their recommendations.

Responding to Cllr Wright, he said: “Having met them a number of times, I think they do listen to us it’s just they don’t agree which they’re entitled to.

“I have been impressed by their level of thoughtfulness on it. It isn’t just an arrogant ‘Well that’s tough and we’re doing what we like’.
“This latest position seems to be much easier to accept, particularly given that other groups are now having a significantly higher wage rise than this.

“What we found offensive was us having a wage rise when other people we were responsible for didn’t and that just didn’t feel right at all.”

Members voted in favour of sending a response to the panel to indicate they were generally in agreement with the changes at the end of the debate.

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter