Councillors vote for massive pay rises

2nd April 2008

AN OVERWHELMING 48 out of 57 councillors present at a Town Hall meeting yesterday (Tues) voted in favour of giving themselves massive pay rises.

A controversial report sparked lengthy debate due to its recommendations to increase councillor allowances.

Members of council workers' union UNISON protested outside the council chamber to urge councillors not to accept the increases.

However, the scheme was approved and changes mean the council leader will now get an extra £11,500 per year and his deputy an additional £7,248 per year.

Each of the executive members will receive an increase of £6,881 and councillors' basic allowance will rise by £1,521 per year.

The vote also means members will be allowed to join the Local Government Pension Scheme, which has a 17.7 percent employer's contribution rate.

All these changes will cost about £813,500.

At the start of the debate Independent council chairman David Shopland warned councillors to be very careful as residents would not forget the decision made.

Councillors including Ann Harley and Andrew Horler argued for the rises, saying it would widen the age group of the council and the money is required because the councillor role involves a lot more work than it used to.

Independent Cllr Tom Leimdorfer suggested an amendment not to introduce the proposals this year because the money had not been budgeted for, which only 11 councillors supported.

Cllr Elfan Ap Rees said cash needed could also come from 'efficiency savings'.

The report, compiled by Weston College chief executive Paul Phillips, local businessman Joe Conlon, retired IT director George Reah and local resident Kelli Wade, was then voted through.

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