5.9 per cent pay rise proposed for councillors

Councillor pay in Powys is set to rise by more than £1,000 next April.

A draft report has proposed an increase in the basic salary for all members to £19,771, up from the current £18,666.

  Other Trending Stories

• Why was a helicopter over Newtown this week?
• Festive window competition theme announced
• Visitor Levy Bill to be introduced this month
• New rail penalties from Monday

Councillor pay and allowances is not determined by councillors themselves but by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales on a national level.

This rise, amounting to a 5.9 per cent increase, comes at a time when councils are under pressure to cut services and potentially raise taxes to balance the books.

The plan by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) aims to align councillor pay with average earnings and attract a wider range of candidates. This increase follows a £1,000 rise last year and a significant 17 per cent hike in salaries the year before.

The leader's pay is set to rise to £66,727, an increase of more than £3,700. The deputy leader will now earn £46,709, up by £2,700, while cabinet members will receive £40,036. Committee chairs and the leader of the opposition will both see an increase to £29,657.

In response to the proposals, IRPW chairwoman Frances Duffy stated, "The Panel believes fair and reasonable levels of remuneration are crucial to local democracy."

The proposals will undergo a consultation process before a final report is issued in February, ensuring a comprehensive review of the suggested pay changes.

Allowances for community and town councillors will remain unaffected.

From April 2025, these responsibilities will transition to the new Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.