Council Leaders Will Not Accept Pay Rise Amid 52% Increase for Leader
Tewkesbury council leaders will forgo pay increases as allowances rise significantly to address historic pay disparities.
Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, UK, Council, Allowances, Pay Rise
Tewkesbury: Council leaders have decided to give up part of their pay. This comes after a vote to increase allowances significantly. The goal is to fix a long-standing pay issue.
Last night, Tewkesbury Borough Councillors approved a 2.5% rise in basic allowances. This was recommended by an independent panel. The council leader’s pay will jump from £16,800 to £25,510, a 51.8% increase.
Richard Blamey, who leads the panel, explained the changes. He noted that the basic allowance is among the highest in the country. However, inflation has made it necessary to increase it by £200 this year.
Blamey also pointed out that the special responsibility allowance was low compared to other councils. They recommended significant increases for these allowances to correct the pay gap.
Additionally, the carer’s allowance for councillors will rise from £10.42 to £12.21. Councillor David Gray raised concerns about the leader’s 51.8% increase during the meeting.
Gray explained that under the new plan, the leader would receive an extra £5,885 for being a group leader. This would bring the total to £25,510, which is a big jump.
Blamey confirmed that this increase aims to address the pay anomaly. Councillor Richard Stanley thanked the panel for their work and acknowledged the significant changes.
Stanley stated he would forgo the increase for the leader role. He believes this would align his pay with the average in the area. The leader of Cheltenham earns £27,799, while Gloucester’s leader makes over £30,000.
His deputy, Councillor Sarah Hands, also pledged to give up her increase. Both will share their decision with other council members.
The council approved the pay rise with 17 votes in favor, 11 against, and five abstentions. After the meeting, Gray expressed concerns about the large increases affecting residents.
He mentioned that Tewkesbury Borough Council has been cautious with pay increases in the past. This change marks a significant shift in their approach.
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