Pay cut a shock for deputy mayor

Porirua Deputy Mayor Liz Kelly says the decision by her colleagues to cut her salary by 10 per cent last week ‘‘came completely out of left field’’.

During the discussion for setting elected members’ remuneration for the next 12 months, Ms Kelly’s $40,288 salary and Euon Murrell’s $ 35,972 for being the committee chair were reviewed.

Councillor ‘Ana Coffey moved an amendment to increase Mr Murrell’s salary by 5 per cent and reduce Ms Kelly’s by 10 per cent.

The Remuneration Authority sets the salary pool available to elected officials.

The councillors themselves can only determine how that pool is divided up, excluding the salary of the mayor.

‘‘I think the remuneration should reflect the change in the role [for Mr Murrell, as the sole committee chair] and the extra work that he has done,’’ Ms Coffey said.

It was passed, with only councillor Ken Douglas and Ms Kelly opposing.

Ms Kelly later told Kapi-mana News there had obviously been discussion before Thursday’s meeting, which she was late to because of a radio interview, during which she defended Mayor Nick Leggett’s pay rise.

His salary will rise from $100,900 to $105,400 from July 1. ‘‘Can you see the irony there? ‘‘ I was blown away by this decision. It came completely out of left field and would have liked at least a heads-up.

‘‘For me, though, you don’t become a councillor or deputy mayor for money – if you do, you’re in the wrong career.

‘‘But the reason I voted against it is that I do plenty of work as deputy mayor, attending events and stepping in for Nick at meetings, some that last all day.’’

Each councillor will receive $28,776, unchanged from the previous year.

The ipad trial for councillors will end on July 1. Councillors who wish to retain an ipad will have to buy it.