‘There is not much we can do’

Kent County Council said basic allowances are not “salaries” because councillors are not full time employees. However, the increases have not been without controversy. It was under the spotlight in 2017 when former leader Cllr Paul Carter (Con) proposed to enlarge the basic rate of pay by 15% in a single year. This was voted in by councillors. Following this it was agreed, also in 2017, that future increases in members allowances should be linked to the same percentage rise awarded to all council staff. The latest rise has proven contentious given the financial difficulties faced at County Hall amid the public health emergency with coronavirus. KCC’S administration has recently said it will need at least an extra £50million from Boris Johnson’s government to cover the growing costs of Covid-19 over the next 12 months, which is forecast to be around £130m at this stage.

After the meeting, Labour group leader Cllr Dara Farell said members were unable to set their own pay, while KCC’S main opposition leader Rob Bird (Lib Dem) added: “The rise is part of formula that was agreed in 2017 and there is not much that we can do about it.” But Benjamin Watts, head of governance, said the pay rise could be refused, adding: “The increase applies to all members unless they explicitly to write to ask for it to be kept back.” Members also agreed to increase council staff pay. Entry level officer salaries will rise to £18,039, which equates to £9.35 per hour. This is above the national set limit of £8.72 an hour for people aged 25 and over.

Cllr Rob Bird