Wrexham councillors set for pay rise of almost five per cent

Councillors in Wrexham could be set to receive an extra £800 per year, suggested by the independent body which sets their salaries.

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) which decides politicians’ pay has proposed the 4.76 per cent increase which would take effect from April next year. But there is a consultation period up until December for the council to respond to the suggestion before the uplift is set.

If the change goes ahead it would mean the basic salary for a Wrexham councillor will increase from £16,800 per year, to £17,600 a year.

Wrexham Council’s Democratic Services committee meets on Thursday (November 3) to share their thoughts on the proposal.

The IRPW report which will be looked at by the committee makes clear that after a significant rise in councillor salaries last year, there is only a modest increase proposed this year.

It states: “The panel has decided that this year will be a year of consolidation.

“Major changes were put in place last year, and a significant uplift in salary levels was agreed.

“We wish to allow time for last year’s determinations to bed in and to allow the panel to continue its development of a research and evidence base to inform future decisions and move to a longer term planning cycle.”

As well as basic councillor salaries, the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader and members of the Executive Board will see their payments rise by 4.76 per cent.

The Council Leader role salary could rise from £56,700 to £59,700, the Deputy Leader salary would increase from £39,690 to £41,580, and Executive Board members could see their annual salaries rise from £34,020 to £35,640.

Aside from the leader and the deputy, there are eight other members on Wrexham Council’s Executive Board.

Committee chairs (where remunerated) are set to see their salaries rise by 3.15 per cent, from £25,593 to £26,400, and the Leader of the opposition group on the council could see their salary rise from £25,953 to £26,400.

There are also pay rises proposed for Civic Heads, which would mean a 3.15 per cent increase from £25,593 to £26,400 for the Mayor, and a 3.89 per cent rise from £20,540 to £21,340 for the Deputy Mayor.

Overall, the proposed increases would lead to an additional cost of £56,013 to be found in the council’s budget for 2023/24.

The proposed increase in councillor pay this year is significantly less than the 16.9 per cent increase last year.

A year ago, Wrexham councillors voiced their opposition after the IRPW set out the £2,400 a year increase, suggested due to councillor salaries having fallen behind the average salary in Wales.

At the time members of Wrexham Council suggested returning the money to the council or donating it to charity, which the opposition Labour group has historically done.

The IRPW says the basic salary, paid to all elected members, is remuneration for the responsibility of community representation and participation in the scrutiny, regulatory and related functions of local governance. It is based on a full time equivalent of three days a week.

It’s report adds: “The panel has a duty to set payments that are fair and that encourage and enable democratic participation.

“It must also take account of affordability and acceptability. In making its determinations for this draft report, the panel considered a range of benchmarks, including past, current and projected indices and actual figures and the known and forecast extent and impact of multiple economic and social factors.

“These included post Brexit and COVID work environments and the cost of living, energy and climate crises.

“The Panels proposals are consulted on and following consideration of the views received in response to its consultation the panel makes its final determinations which are published each year in its annual report.”

Wrexham Council has until December 1 to respond to the proposals via the consultation.

By Rory Sheehan – BBC Local Democracy Reporter