Senior councillors have agreed to give themselves a pay cut – worth around £40,000 to Caerphilly County Borough Council taxpayers.
A statutory body called the Independent Remuneration Panel, established by Welsh Government, determines the level of money paid to councillors across Wales.
It was agreed at a meeting of full council that the authority would adopt the lowest salary option as determined by the panel in relation to its senior members and committee chairs.
This means that members of the council’s cabinet, excluding the leader and deputy leader, are on £26,100 a year.
Chairs of council committees are now on £20,000 a year.
Council Leader Keith Reynolds announced that he would be taking a 5% voluntary pay cut from his £48,000 salary taking it to around £45,600.
The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales did not suggest any increases in payments made to backbench councillors for 2016/17 with their salaries remaining at £13,300.
All Members are entitled to receive the Basic Salary and, in view of the current public sector funding climate, the panel has determined that there shall be no increase in the basic salary.
Cllr Reynolds said: “All members are aware of the financial pressures facing the local authority at the moment and we want to ensure that we all play our part in delivering much needed savings in these times of austerity.
”We feel that this decision sends a clear message about our commitment to making savings and I’m sure the community will welcome the news.”
Thats nice of them….
The Welsh Nationalist on the Council, applaud the Labour Council and it`s leadership in taking this action, it`s just that they can`t find the words to say so.!!!!
I suspect No one has any objection to these moves?