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Pay rise for councillors
LIB Dem councillors in Islington – who already enjoy some of the highest allowances in the land – have voted for themselves a staggering 5.5 per cent inflation-busting pay rise.
The increase pushes Town Hall leader Lib Dem Cllr James Kempton up to almost £58,000 annually, which is more than £20,00 more than the leader of Camden (£36,979) and £7,000 more than the leader of Manchester City council (£51,486).
It amounts to £501 per councillor, taking the basic allowance up to £9,964.
The pay hike will mean, with all allowances put together, executive members – who chair committees – will be earning £45,039. Islington’s executive councillors earn £15,000 more than nearby Haringey where they receive £32,500 annually
The increase has caused controversy at a time when local government workers have been asked to tighten their belts with a two per cent pay increase.
A move by the Labour group on the council to tie allowance increases to the local government pay settlement was rejected by the Lib Dem leadership.
The Labour opposition – who have refused the increases to their allowances for two successive years – have donated £12,000 saved towards play services in the borough.
Cllr Kempton described the move as “political postering.”
Labour’s finance spokesman, Cllr Daniel Hulls, said: “The Lib Dems’ proposal to increase councillors’ basic allowance by more than five per cent is out of line with pay increases for most staff.
“Labour councillors proposed that the increase should be the same as in the local government pay settlement. “Despite the freeze in special responsibility allowances this year, Liberal Democrat councillors are still paying themselves amongst the highest level in the country.”
Cllr Kempton said: “I wonder how many council tax payers realise that Labour councillors claim more than a quarter of a million pounds a year in councillors allowance.
“And they are in opposition. I give money to charity too – but I do so quietly. If they wanted to make more than this sort of cheap political gesture, they might think about giving a bit more or going to volunteer for example.” |
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