City councillors to get pay rise as chamber shrinks
BIRMINGHAM councillors are set get a pay rise as they face “increased workloads” follwing a major shake-up of the city’s ward boundaries.
Birmingham City Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel has recommended elected members’ allowance is increased by two per cent, from £16,267 a year to £16,592.
Councillors are already among the highest rewarded in the West Midlands compared to other authorities, but the flat rate – which assumes three days of council work a week – has not been increased for seven years.
The authority has justified the move because the number of members will shrink from 120 to 101 following the local election on May 3 – though the number of wards will increase from 40 to 69.
But the panel revealed that some councillors had called for an increase of up to 23 per cent, taking their basic income to around £20,000.
However, most councillors were in favour of the ‘modest’ rise put forward. The report said: “The main reason for this [the two per cent increase] was to reflect the anticipated increased workloads with the reduction of the number of councillors and introduction of one- and two-member wards in May 2018.
“Other reasons for an increase cited included: the loss of the councillor pension scheme; the reduced support available to members from the council and the need to attract younger councillors.”
The panel has also recommended a parental leave policy be implemented in a bid to attract younger councillors, which would mean elected members receive their basic allowance for up to six months if they are absent for parental reasons.
The move was welcomed by members of the business management committee, though some said it reflected poorly on the current policy.
Council deputy leader Cllr Brigid Jones, said: “I was astonished how badly we treat women in this organisation. I would ask HR to have a look at that. I was shocked.”
She added: “I absolutely welcome the parental leave policy. Four per cent of councils have one. It is really welcome. I was about to say it is timely, but really it is 100 years too late.” Council leader Ian Ward described it as a ‘step in the right direction’. The remuneration panel recommended that special responsibilty allowances, such as the £50,000 Cllr Ward receives for being leader as well as the £25,000 bonuses earned by those sitting on the cabinet, remain frozen. Cllr Rob Alden, leader of the Conservative group, welcomed the recommendations which will be put before the full council.
He said: “I am not surprised to see the fact the panel has picked up on the reduction of councillors.
“There will still be the same number of residents and in fact the population will increase significantly over the next 15 years.”