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.
Scarborough and Whitby Harbour Decision Plays in to Council Budget Woes
Celebrating 10 Years Of Youth Disability Football in Scarborough
Last Chance for Scarborough Residents to Shape £20 Million Investment
Yorkshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Plans Progress
Pickering Town Face Friday Night Challenge
Whitby Hotel's Pink Paint Paperwork Mix Up
North Yorkshire Leaders Call for Fairer Fire Funding Following Major Moorland Blaze
East Riding Leaders Slam "Unfair" Funding Settlement as Residents Face Council Tax Hike
Voices of Ukraine Set For Scarborough Library Performance
Padel Court Plan for Cayton
New Murals Coming to Bridlington
Sandsend Business Needs Parking to Avoid Closure
Comments
Add a comment