Councillors turn down over £30,000 in salaries
Elected members say role is their public duty
Two elected members have not claimed their salaries - a combined total of more than £ 30,000 - from Renfrewshire Council because they feel the role is a public duty.
Conservative councillors John McIntyre and Alistair Mackay were elected in May last year and would likely have received a basic salary rate of £15,536.48 per annum.
However, a public record of councillors’ salaries, allowances and expenses showed the pair requested not to receive their payment for the period running from April 2017 to March 2018.
Councillor McIntyre, a surveyor by trade, said: “I’ve got my own business so I’m doing this for public service.
“I’m not doing it for the additional salary.”
The Paisley Northwest elected member admitted he wasn’t sure if he was “trying to be noble” but said representing a deprived area played a part in his decision.
“Because I’m representing a poor area I thought I might have been attacked for having a day job but actually, in practice, a lot of the councillors work for MSPs and things.
“I don’t know if that was just me trying to be noble or if I was being naive.”
Meanwhile, Johnstone South and Elderslie Councillor Alistair Mackay said: “I think it’s my civic duty to do things like that.”
When speaking about his role representing members of the public, he said: “I think everyone should take a turn at it. “I’m not into career politics. “Once I’ve finished my five years, I’m not going to stand again.”
Councillor Mc Int y re explained while the legal workload for an elected member is relatively low, the role was something people should do for non- financial reasons.
He said: “I would stick with it. I think it’s one of these things being a councillor, it’s quite interesting the actual statutory workload is one meeting a quarter.
“But when you go to all of the meetings, it’s very busy. I think it’s a job you have to want to do
“There’s definitely a career path in politics and that’s not something I intend to do.”
Neither of the two elected members in question claim expenses either but all councillors are given a mobile phone and laptop and receive support services from Renfrewshire Council.
A spokeswoman for the council confirmed salaries that were not claimed become an “underspend” and are put towards public services.