Councillors in Wales Set to Receive £1,000 Salary Increase
Councillors in Wales are set for a pay rise, with the basic salary increasing to £19,771 for the upcoming year
Wales, Councillors, Salary Increase, Public Funding, Local Government
Cardiff: So, it looks like councillors in Wales are about to get a nice little bump in their pay. An independent panel has been looking at salaries and decided it’s time for a change.
Starting in 2025-26, the basic salary for councillors will jump to £19,771. That’s up from last year’s £18,666. This pay is for all elected members and is based on a full-time equivalent of three days a week.
The panel knows that public funding is tight, but they also pointed out that councillor pay has lagged behind average earnings in Wales for a while. They felt a significant increase was needed.
Now, if you’re a council leader, your pay will depend on the size of your authority. For example, leaders in Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Swansea will see their salaries rise to £74,141, up from £69,998.
Deputy leaders in those areas will earn £51,899, while cabinet members will make £44,485. Other councils will see their leaders getting around £66,727, which is also a nice increase.
There’s a whole list of councils that will benefit from this pay rise, and it’s good to see some adjustments being made. The panel is set to finalize everything by February 28, 2025.
Wales is home to three national parks, and members of those authorities will also see some pay. Basic members will get £5,576, while chairs will earn £15,462.
Even community and town council members will get a little something, with £156 a year to help cover extra costs of working from home. It’s nice to see some recognition for the work they do!