Carmarthenshire big wigs reject pay rise
Carmarthenshire's Executive Board has rejected any rise in their pay for the next financial year.
Members voted unanimously today to freeze their allowances - against the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.
It follows previous public announcements by Council Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell and Deputy Leader Cllr Kevin Madge that they would not be accepting the recommended rise.
However, the Executive Board agreed that the report should go to Full Council to give all councillors the opportunity to debate the issue regarding any rise or changes to basic allowances for all members.
Cllr Gravell said: “As an Executive Board we all feel we should do the same thing as our senior officers have already done and freeze our pay for the coming financial year, due to the financial situation and economic recession we are in.
“However, the report should go to Full Council for all members to vote on this as it affects all members, but as an Executive Board we will certainly not be accepting any rise in our remuneration.”
Cllr Madge said: “We should not, and will not, be taking a pay rise, these are difficult times for local government generally and this authority.”
Members agreed unanimously to freeze their allowances for the next financial year, and for the report to go before Full Council for all members to vote on the remainder of it.
The report includes recommendations for an increase for the Leader of over eight per cent; rises for Deputy Leaders and Executive Board members; and a rise in the basic allowance for all members.
The panel has also determined that Special Responsibility Allowances are no longer paid to vice chairs of committees which has to be implemented by next year.
Members voted unanimously today to freeze their allowances - against the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.
It follows previous public announcements by Council Leader Cllr Meryl Gravell and Deputy Leader Cllr Kevin Madge that they would not be accepting the recommended rise.
However, the Executive Board agreed that the report should go to Full Council to give all councillors the opportunity to debate the issue regarding any rise or changes to basic allowances for all members.
Cllr Gravell said: “As an Executive Board we all feel we should do the same thing as our senior officers have already done and freeze our pay for the coming financial year, due to the financial situation and economic recession we are in.
“However, the report should go to Full Council for all members to vote on this as it affects all members, but as an Executive Board we will certainly not be accepting any rise in our remuneration.”
Cllr Madge said: “We should not, and will not, be taking a pay rise, these are difficult times for local government generally and this authority.”
Members agreed unanimously to freeze their allowances for the next financial year, and for the report to go before Full Council for all members to vote on the remainder of it.
The report includes recommendations for an increase for the Leader of over eight per cent; rises for Deputy Leaders and Executive Board members; and a rise in the basic allowance for all members.
The panel has also determined that Special Responsibility Allowances are no longer paid to vice chairs of committees which has to be implemented by next year.
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