York councillors are set to receive a pay rise ahead of the authority’s annual budget meeting.
The Independent Remuneration Panel has recommended that members of City of York Council receive a basic annual allowance of £11,392 backdated to May 2023, up from £11,282.
Councillors who have special responsibilities will also receive a pay rise on their special responsibility allowance.
For example, executive members of the council will receive £20,506 – up from £20,307 – on top of their basic allowance.
The leader of the City of York Council, Cllr Claire Douglas, will now receive £45,568.
The total current budget for member’s allowances is £786K per year.
If the panel’s recommendations are accepted at full council on 22 February, the budget will need to increase to around £793K per year.
It comes as the council is looking to save £14m.
Cllr Douglas said: “The council has convened a panel of independent people working or living in York to carry out the process of reviewing councillors’ allowances.
“Under York’s arrangements for allowances, this is a legal requirement every four years.
“The panel’s recommendations have just been published and all councillors will debate and vote on these proposals at the council’s 2024-25 budget setting meeting next week.”
‘High-handed arrogance’
Cllr Nigel Ayre, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group, said: “All previous IRPs have been done truly cross-party.
“It is extremely disappointing that Labour has not discussed this with other groups and has decided to try and slip this out with the budget papers.
“This is yet another example of their high-handed, arrogant approach to governing.
“This administration is becoming increasingly insular with their failure to consult on any of the major changes they are making within the budget.
“We call on the Labour administration to start to engage with opposition councillors and residents.”