Lancashire councillors have voted to increase their own pay by 2.5%, despite the council facing significant budget cuts and proposing a five percent council tax rise. The increase, recommended by an independent panel, will see the basic annual allowance rise to £11,600, with special responsibility allowances also increasing by 2.5%. While Labour councillors supported the recommendation, Conservatives and Reform UK members voted against, citing concerns about the timing given the council's financial difficulties.
Councillors have voted themselves a 2.5 percent pay rise, with the basic annual allowance set to increase by almost £300. This means councillors will see their basic allowance rise to £11,600 from the current rate of £11,317, backdated to April 2024. Special responsibility allowances will also increase by 2.5 percent – these include payments to council leader Cllr Lynn Williams, who currently receives £33,951 for the role, while all cabinet members receive £15,277.
The percentage increase was recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel, which regularly reviews the amount councillors are paid for carrying out their duties. Labour councillors voted in favour of the recommendation at a full meeting of the council, but the Conservatives and Reform UK voted against. Cllr Paul Galley, leader of the Conservative group, said it was wrong for councillors to receive extra cash when the council was struggling financially and had seen its reserves drop below £50,000 during the current financial year. And Cllr Bradley Mitchell (Conservative) said the back pay would amount to £25,000 and added: “I would rather this goes towards services.” This comes as the council is proposing to cut its budget for the next financial year by £8.6m while council tax is expected to increase by five percent. But the Labour group said without adequate allowances, many people would not be able to consider the possibility of election to the council. Cllr Paula Burdess, who is cabinet member with responsibility for community safety, street scene and neighbourhoods, said: “If you want people who are committed as councillors to do the job well, not just in the council chamber but outside in our communities, it is a lot of time that we spend serving our communities which I think deserves proper remuneration. “You take time out of your full-time job and that is why there is remuneration. It’s not about moral conscience at all. I know I am serving my community, I know how much time I spend doing this role and I think this remuneration is fair.' The last increases were in 2023 when councillors voted for a four percent increase in February, followed by a vote in June for a further two percent increase
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY RISE BUDGET CUTS COUNCILLORS Lancashire
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