Wirral councillors are in line for a pay rise despite rejecting one last September.
An independent remuneration panel has recommended the local authority members accept a pay award increase of 5% to boost their annual fees to £9,308 despite turning down an increase in allowances in 2021. At its annual general meeting last September, members of Wirral Council did not accept a proposed recommendation to increase annual pay from £8,712 to £9,148.
Following a discussion with group leaders on the council and taken into account the level of allowances paid by other local authorities, the independent panel said they will again recommend an amendment be made to the allowances scheme to increase the level of basic allowance from the present level of £8,864.92 to £9,308.17 per annum. The rise has been set at this level to “encourage and make it possible for everyone to seek election to council.”
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The panel also noted members were committing more of their time to council business following change of governance arrangements in September 2020. Should the changes go ahead, it will increase Wirral Council’s budget for members’ pay to more than £800,000 a year.
Group leaders are also in for a change of pay with the five-person panel told that it was felt they should be paid proportionately to leader of the council, Cllr Jan Williamson, who receives £24,000 a year. As a result, group leaders will be paid on a scale based on size, with the second largest group leader receiving 60% of the leaders’ pay, 30% for the third largest and 20% for the fourth.
Other small groups would receive 5%. All groups would need a minimum of four members. The same approach is being recommended for deputy leaders, with Cllr Jean Robinson receiving a top up of £12,000 on top of her basic allowance.
It is not clear if the members will accept a new proposal following last year’s decision. Last month, a pay rise for Liverpool councillors was rejected after the controlling Labour group voted against an uplift.
The 90 members at the Town Hall had been in line for an pay uplift of 1.75%, increasing their annual allowance to £10,775 per year - a rise of £185. Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram, also indicated last week he would turn down an additional £3,000 for his role and donate it to good causes.
Wirral Council’s constitution and standards committee will debate the issue when it meets at Wallasey Town Hall next week.
