Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet members have agreed to reduce their salaries by 5% “as a contribution towards the savings likely to be required across all of the council’s departments.”
The council are facing a further 3.4% funding cut from the Welsh Government in 2015 – £9.2m on top of the council’s planned savings of over £13m between 2015 and 2017.
The leader of the council, Cllr Keith Reynolds, currently receives £47,500 for his council duties meaning his new salary will save the council £2,375.
Deputy Leader, Gerald Jones, currently receives £31,120 with the other deputy Barbara Jones getting £31,250, having not forgone a salary increase recommended by the Independent remuneration Panel for Wales, as many other councillors did.
Other Cabinet members receive £28,780 or £29,000 if they accepted the recommended pay rise, meaning each member will save the council between £1,149 and £1,450.
Cllr Keith Reynolds said: “We all agree this is absolutely the right thing to do as we have a duty to lead this authority by example.
“I want to send a clear message out to our residents and staff that we are working hard to protect services and we are more than happy to make a contribution if it helps lessen the impact of the cuts ahead.”
Caerphilly MP Wayne David welcomed the Cabinet’s decision.
He said: “I think it’s an extremely positive move. I strongly support their actions, it sends out a very positive signal.”
A Labour group spokesperson said: “Our Labour Cabinet members are giving strong leadership by foregoing 5% of their allowances.
“Their show of unity with the rest of the council as it faces severe cuts demonstrates Labour’s commitment to working together with staff and residents to face the challenges imposed on us by the Tory-led Westminster Government’s attack on our valued council services.”
Councillor Colin Mann, leader of the opposition Plaid Cymru group, said: “We welcome the decision of the Cabinet to reduce their allowances which is long overdue. Plaid Cymru has been urging Labour rulers to follow their colleagues in Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cardiff but until now they ignored our appeals.
“The savings proposed won’t have any major impact on the authority’s budget problems but it does represent a gesture when the people of the County Borough are facing cuts in services.
“However, we note that the Labour group is continuing to ignore our appeals to reduce the number of Cabinet members. They increased the number to 10 immediately they took office in 2012. The Cabinet is top heavy and could be cut without any impact on the running of the authority.”
The Cabinet will discuss draft budget proposals at a meeting on October 29.
Good start, now how about reducing the pay of the Chief Executive, his deputy and all the service heads? The recent rise in pay of the Chief Executive alone is more than all the money saved by these public spirited cabinet members.
Cut the fat of departmental budgets, this token, tinkering at the edges makes the Caerphilly Council look like they are NOT prepared to make all the difficult decisions which they are putting off, but until when? perhaps until the Welsh Assembly intervenes and forces a merger with other authorities who ARE prepared to take necessary difficult decisions on balancing the public books.
Three elections not a million miles away 2015 and 2016 and Labour Councillors will have to demonstrate some political backbone by then or I reluctantly predict political catastrophy in the ballot box. They have to show now that they will reduce waste and nebulous Council expenditure on useless departmental obesity,
Over a million pounds spent on twelve street wardens, who, even though the clue is in the title, now ride around, in pairs or in threes, in brand new council vans provided for the purpose. What on earth is that all about, CUT IT and save over a million pounds at a stroke, but to do so will need a bit of backbone, can anyone identify any??????.