Lichfield District Council's offices. Pic: Lichfield District Council

A report has suggested councillors in Lichfield and Burntwood “may wish to forego” planned increases in their allowances.

Lichfield District Council's offices. Pic: Lichfield District Council
Lichfield District Council’s offices. Pic: Lichfield District Council

The Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) has been examining proposals for a one per cent increase for members of Lichfield District Council.

In a report to be heard at a meeting of the council this evening (May 6), the IRP suggests councillors should “lead by example” on the issue.

The report said: “Following the council’s agreement at the meeting on May 8 2012 to the IRP’s recommendation that pay awards to staff will in future be the benchmark for changes in Members’ allowances, the IRP questions whether Members may wish to forego any increase in their allowances for 2014/15 in view of the continuing constraints on public expenditure in general and the savings plus financial stringency needed by the District Council in particular.

“At the time of writing this report the IRP acknowledges a resolution of the pay award to staff for 2014/15 is awaited, but in an expectation that the pay award will be in the order of a one per cent increase, such a decision to forego an increase would both serve to demonstrate and enable Members to lead by example.”

A previous suggestion by the IRP in May 2013 to turn down an increase was backed by councillors.

Should the freeze be approved, it would continue to see Members of the council given a basic allowance of 3,020 per year, with an IT provision of £430. Other roles within the council receive:

  • Chairman of the council: £2,740 with a maximum civic duties expense of £6,370
  • Vice-chairman of the council: £820 with a maximum civic duties expense of £2,720
  • Leader of the council and cabinet member for communications: £11,360
  • Leader of the principal minority group: £2,270
  • Deputy leader of the principal minority group: £570
  • Deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for economic growth and development services: £6,820
  • Cabinet member for finance, democratic and legal services: £6,250
  • Cabinet member for leisure and parks: £6,250
  • Cabinet member for IT and waste services: £6,250
  • Cabinet member for community, housing and health: £6,250
  • Community, housing and health overview and scrutiny committee chairman: £2,270
  • Economic growth, environment and development services overview and scrutiny committee chairman: £2,270
  • Strategic overview and scrutiny committee chairman: £2,270
  • Standards committee chairman: £50 per meeting
  • Audit committee chairman: £2,270
  • Planning committee chairman: £6,250
  • Planning committee vice-chairman: £2,270
  • Regulatory and licensing committee chairman: £2,270
  • Regulatory and licensing committee vice-chairman: £570
  • Employment committee chairman: £2,270
  • Parish forum chairman: £570

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

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Grumpy
9 years ago

I see the LD Councillors voted against this and asked for an increase. Pigs, troughs, noses?

FiveSpiresLive
9 years ago

Who were the Councillors who voted against the recommended nil-increase? And who were the (only) two councillors who bothered to respond to the Panel’s request for input?

Steve Norman
9 years ago

My Labour Group voted against any increase whilst cuts in services with further staff redundancies are still being considered by the council.

Cllr Steve Norman
9 years ago

My Labour Group had already agreed to support the IRP recommendation of a freeze in councillor allowances before the meeting so we voted against the Conservative Group’s proposed one per cent increase.
My colleagues did not want vote themselves the increase, however small, when further cuts in services – and further possible staff redundancies as a result – are still real possibilities this year.
Cllr Steve Norman
Leader, Labour Group
Lichfield District Council