Tewkesbury council leaders have decided to forgo their pay rise after a significant increase in the council leader’s allowance was approved to address a pay anomaly.
Tewkesbury: Council leaders have made a big decision. They will not take a pay rise. This comes after a vote to increase the council leader’s allowance significantly.
The council approved a 2.5% rise in basic allowances. However, the council leader’s pay will jump from £16,800 to £25,510. That’s a 51.8% increase!
Richard Blamey, who leads the independent panel, explained the changes. He noted that the basic allowance is among the highest in the country but acknowledged inflation’s impact.
He also mentioned that the special responsibility allowance was low compared to other councils. So, they recommended significant increases for those roles.
Councillor David Gray raised concerns about the leader’s pay hike. He pointed out that the leader would earn much more than before, which raised eyebrows.
In response, Cllr Richard Stanley said he would give up his increase. He wants to keep his pay in line with the average for the area.
His deputy, Cllr Sarah Hands, also pledged to forgo her increase. They both plan to share this decision with the council.
The council voted on the pay rise, with 17 in favor and 11 against. Some members found the increases hard to accept, especially with rising costs for residents.
After the meeting, Cllr Gray expressed concerns about the financial impact on the community. He noted that Tewkesbury has been cautious with pay increases in the past.
In other news, Gloucestershire Live is inviting people to join their WhatsApp community for the latest updates and breaking news.
