Norwich councillors to be awarded pay rise despite financial pressures
Councillors have defended the pay rise, saying they essentially earn “below minimum wage” in their roles
Councillors are set to be awarded a pay rise above the rate of inflation despite major financial pressures.
The increase to allowances at City Hall will see some members claim an additional £550 a year to cover travel and admin costs and compensate for the hours spent on council duties.
This comes at a time when the authority needs to make millions of pounds in savings and is facing scrutiny over its use of funds.
However, councillors have defended the pay rise, saying they essentially earn “below minimum wage” in their roles.
What are the allowances for?
The money is intended to recognise the time put in by councillors, who do not receive a salary, in helping their constituents and attending meetings.
While all members receive a basic allowance to help cover costs such as phone, postage and printer cartridges, those who have specific roles, such as cabinet members and chairs of committees, receive an additional special allowance.
The allowance rise has been recommended by an independent panel and does not have to be accepted by councillors.
These recommendations include an increase of 3.3pc which would boost the basic allowance from £7,550 to £7,800.
The increase will also apply to special responsibility allowances, so leader of the council, Mike Stonard, will see this element increase from £12,600 to £13,000.
In total, it means he will receive an extra £650 a year for carrying out his duties.
The special allowance for cabinet members and other group leaders will also increase from £6,300 to £6,500.
Councillors have defended the pay rise and many said it was a “moot point” whether or not the exact sum was deserved.
Claire Kidman, a Labour member, said: “We are working well below minimum wage when you look at the amount of hours we put in.
“Without allowances it would only be rich people who could afford to be councillors – and I don’t think the people of Norwich want to be represented entirely by those who are well off.”
Caroline Ackroyd, a Lib Dem member, said: “I’m retired but many people have to juggle working alongside their councillor duties.
“It’s important that we encourage younger people to become councillors and this might help people to take time out of work where otherwise they would be losing money.
“This isn’t a lot of money and I hope people won’t see it as a cash grab – but we need to empower people to come into these roles from all walks of life.”
Lucy Galvin, leader of the Green group, added: “Councillors are granted allowances to help them with the work they do to represent residents.
“It’s important that elected members are not only those who are wealthy enough to take on the role and that we increase representation across the board.”
The independent panel reviewing councillor allowances based the pay rise on the median increase in staff pay at the council.
This increase for staff was agreed last month at a rate of £1,290.
City Hall is facing significant financial pressures and previously warned that it needs to make more than £9.5m in savings to plug a future gap in funds over the next five years.
Questions have been raised about its use of funds in recent months after it was revealed that spending on temporary staff has skyrocketed with an increase of around 240pc since 2020.
Opposition members at the Labour-run council criticised the “ballooning” spending amid struggles to recruit permanent members of staff.
The pay rise will be discussed by members at a meeting of Norwich City Council next week, where they will decide whether or not to accept the increased sum.