Councillors set to get pay rise

Councillors across Monmouthshire and the rest of Wales are to get another pay rise.

The basic wage for councillors in principal authorities across the country is set to go up to £13,868 per year – an increase of £268 – in 2019/20.

Wages paid to council leaders, deputy leaders and executive members would rise by £800, inclusive of the £268 increase to their basic salaries, under the proposals put forward by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

If accepted by councillors, their basic wages would have risen by almost £800 since 2012. But it would mean their salaries would be back to the same levels as at 2011 – when they were cut by 5 per cent.

A report by the panel said: “During our visits to all principal councils last year many members expressed the view that, compared with a traditional paid employment the basic salary is too low to attract younger people and to encourage greater diversity. They also pointed out the significant differences between remuneration and support available to elected members in other levels of government in Wales.

“They proposed that the level of the basic salary should therefore be raised
significantly in recognition of the importance of the role of an elected member of a principal council.

“The salaries of leaders and members of the executive have not been increased for several years (except for the increase in the basic element). We consider that holders of these posts have significant functional responsibility and compared to remuneration of many other public sector roles are not well paid.”

So who would be paid what?

£54,100
The leaders of Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Swansea would earn £54,100.
Their deputy leaders would also earn £38,100, while their executive members would get £33,100.

£49,100
The leaders of Bridgend, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Conwy, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Newport, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys,
Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham would earn £49,100.
Their deputies would earn £34,600, with cabinet members getting £30,100.

£44,100
The leaders of Blaenau Gwent, Ceredigion, Denbighshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Isle of Anglesey would earn £44,100.
Their deputies would earn £31,100, while executive members would get £27,100.

Across all councils, committee chairs, if remunerated, and leaders of the largest opposition group would earn £22,568.

Leaders of other political groups would earn £17,568.