Councillors pay hike
By Martin Chapman on Tuesday, 18th June 2002.
Plans which would see a Borough Councillors basic allowance to jump almost 200 per cent have been defended by the new council leader.
The decision sees every councillors allowance to rise from £1,500 last year to £4,300, with council leader Ray Nowak who earned just £3,000 as leader of the council opposition last year earning over £12,000 this year.
The recommendation will come at a full council meeting in July by an Independent Remuneration Panel.
However Ray Nowak defended the recommendations saying it would "reflect an allowance base that is more comparable to other Shire districts." He went on to say that the report took into account "that 60% of a councillor's time will continue to be on a voluntary basis."
Leader of the panel, Dr Alan Lower said :"The amount of work involved tends to mean that those who are in full-time employment, or have dependents, find it very difficult to serve their communities in this way."
"If the Council accepts our recommendations then the allowances will help to make up for income lost from time off work and will also provide something towards the cost of care for children, or other dependents. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find the right calibre of people willing to stand as councillors and we hope that this might encourage more people to step forward."
The allowances recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel per year
* Each Borough Councillor £4,300
Additional Responsibility Allowances
* Leader of the Council £8,600
* Deputy Leader of the Council £5,160
* Other Cabinet Members £4,300
Committee Chairmen
* Overview and Scrutiny £3,440
* Policy Development £3,440
* Development Control £3,440
* Licensing and Regulatory £860
* Standards £860
Other Group Leaders
With 10 or more members £2,580
With 5 to 9 members £1,290
Care allowances
Each qualifying councillor with a child or dependent £5 an hour.
What do you think of the proposed rises, let us know your point of view
The decision sees every councillors allowance to rise from £1,500 last year to £4,300, with council leader Ray Nowak who earned just £3,000 as leader of the council opposition last year earning over £12,000 this year.
The recommendation will come at a full council meeting in July by an Independent Remuneration Panel.
However Ray Nowak defended the recommendations saying it would "reflect an allowance base that is more comparable to other Shire districts." He went on to say that the report took into account "that 60% of a councillor's time will continue to be on a voluntary basis."
Leader of the panel, Dr Alan Lower said :"The amount of work involved tends to mean that those who are in full-time employment, or have dependents, find it very difficult to serve their communities in this way."
"If the Council accepts our recommendations then the allowances will help to make up for income lost from time off work and will also provide something towards the cost of care for children, or other dependents. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find the right calibre of people willing to stand as councillors and we hope that this might encourage more people to step forward."
The allowances recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel per year
* Each Borough Councillor £4,300
Additional Responsibility Allowances
* Leader of the Council £8,600
* Deputy Leader of the Council £5,160
* Other Cabinet Members £4,300
Committee Chairmen
* Overview and Scrutiny £3,440
* Policy Development £3,440
* Development Control £3,440
* Licensing and Regulatory £860
* Standards £860
Other Group Leaders
With 10 or more members £2,580
With 5 to 9 members £1,290
Care allowances
Each qualifying councillor with a child or dependent £5 an hour.
What do you think of the proposed rises, let us know your point of view
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