The leader of the opposition on Caerphilly County Borough Council will take a 5% cut in his senior allowance “as a response to the council’s difficult financial situation”.
Plaid Cymru’s Cllr Colin Mann called on members on senior salaries, principally committee chairs, to follow suit after Labour’s cabinet members announced a similar cut.
Last year Cllr Mann received £21,909, including £13,175 basic allowance, for his role. Payments are similar in this financial year.
Cllr Mann said: “The authority faces a very difficult financial situation over the next few years and frontline services to the public are facing the axe.
“While a five per cent cut in allowances won’t go anyway to solving the authority’s budget problems, I feel it is important that councillors are prepared to show to the public that we will also take some pain.
“It would be wrong to continue to take the full senior allowance at a time of severe austerity. As councillors we have to live in the real world.
“I am still getting feedback that there is resentment among rank and file council staff concerning the huge pay rises previously given to 21 senior officers. I would suggest that a gesture from these staff would not only help the budget but also boost morale.
“I would invite all those on senior salaries, to voluntarily give up some of their allowances.”
A Labour group spokesperson said they welcomed “Cllr Mann’s belated decision to follow the example of Caerphilly Council Labour cabinet to take a 5% cut in their allowances, in light of council service cuts imposed by the Tory-led Westminster government”.
He said: “Better late than never.”
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Cllr. Mann is whistling in the wind, expecting any of the council officers to voluntarily give up part of the massive salaries they receive. At the end of the day it is councillors, Plaid as well as Labour, who have permitted the culture of salary inflation over the years.
Given this fact it is councillors who will have to make the decision to trim these salaries. I cannot see this happening and when the Welsh Assembly forces mergers with other councils I can foresee these salaries increasing and reaching new heights of absudity. Watch this space.