North Yorkshire Councillors have voted to award themselves “a real terms pay cut” after being warned any increase would be dimly viewed by people struggling to make ends meet during the cost of living crisis.
Following a robust debate at County Hall in Northallerton a strong majority of North Yorkshire Council members approved the recommendation of an Independent Remuneration Panel to increase their annual basic allowances by £1,500 to £17,000.
Councillors also passed an increase of two per cent for members with special responsibilities at the Conservative-led authority.
The Liberal Democrat group voted against the proposals, as did a handful of other opposition members.
A report to the full council meeting stated the panel considered that councillors are not remunerated as employees and their allowance reflect “the
considerable time commitment required for the proper and conscientious fulfilment of duties”.
The panel’s recommendation also took into account reconfiguration of local government in North Yorkshire and the effect that the overall reduction in councillors, from 319 to 90, has had on the workload of those elected to the unitary authority that was launched in April.
Some councillors had called for there to be no increase at all, but others including Green councillor Andy Brown say it's important the role is accessible to more people.
Liberal Democrat councillor Felicity Cunliffe Lister told the meeting she wouldn't support the increase.
Independent Malton councillor Lindsay Burr also felt that approving any increase in the current economic climate was not acceptable.
The authority’s leader Councillor Carl Les said the panel’s recommendations had been generated from the evidence provided by 23 elected members about their workload following the launch of the unitary authority in April.
North Yorkshire Moors Railway Confirms Revised Reopening Dates As Bridge Fundraising Tops Quarter Of A Million
Scarborough's Rainbow Centre Plans To Demolish And Replace Headquarters
Council To Consider Ban On Wild Camping And Barbecues Across Scarborough And Whitby
North Yorkshire Fire Engine Availability Sees Slight Drop Despite Tax Hikes
East Riding College Student Crowned Winner At International Culinary Competition In Venice
Whitby Town Announces Departures And Major Rebuild Following Challenging Season
Number Of 12-Hour Trolley Waits Continues To Drop At York And Scarborough NHS
Scarborough Pub That 'Barely Broke Even' Could Be Turned Into Flats
Large Fire Breaks Out At Former Balmoral Hotel In Bridlington
Scarborough Athletic Promotion Hopes End with 4-2 Loss
RNLI Lifeguards Return To North Yorkshire Beaches For Spring Bank Holiday
RNLI Lifeguards Return To East Riding Beaches For The Summer
Comments
Add a comment