North Yorkshire Councillors have voted to award themselves “a real terms pay cut” after being warned any increase would be dimly viewed by people struggling to make ends meet during the cost of living crisis.
Following a robust debate at County Hall in Northallerton a strong majority of North Yorkshire Council members approved the recommendation of an Independent Remuneration Panel to increase their annual basic allowances by £1,500 to £17,000.
Councillors also passed an increase of two per cent for members with special responsibilities at the Conservative-led authority.
The Liberal Democrat group voted against the proposals, as did a handful of other opposition members.
A report to the full council meeting stated the panel considered that councillors are not remunerated as employees and their allowance reflect “the
considerable time commitment required for the proper and conscientious fulfilment of duties”.
The panel’s recommendation also took into account reconfiguration of local government in North Yorkshire and the effect that the overall reduction in councillors, from 319 to 90, has had on the workload of those elected to the unitary authority that was launched in April.
Some councillors had called for there to be no increase at all, but others including Green councillor Andy Brown say it's important the role is accessible to more people.
Liberal Democrat councillor Felicity Cunliffe Lister told the meeting she wouldn't support the increase.
Independent Malton councillor Lindsay Burr also felt that approving any increase in the current economic climate was not acceptable.
The authority’s leader Councillor Carl Les said the panel’s recommendations had been generated from the evidence provided by 23 elected members about their workload following the launch of the unitary authority in April.
Mutliple Fylingdales Moor Sites Added to Heritage at Risk Register
Investors Tour Scarborough On Bonfire Night To Spark Regeneration
Overnight Visitor Levy Moves Closer Despite Coastal Business Fears
Major Funding Boost Secures Scarborough Festivals And Theatre Improvements
Major Milestone Reached in £25m Scarborough Hospital Lab Project
MP Likens Yorkshire Water Leadership Change to 'Shuffling Deckchairs on the Titanic'
Gas Company Launches Appeal Against Scarborough Drilling Rig Refusal
Calls For Yorkshire Water To Return To Public Ownership Following 335 Pollution Incidents
Volunteers And Companions Will Celebrate Friendship With Special Afternoon Tea In Scarborough
£2.5m Project Approved to Replace Cremators at Scarborough's Woodlands Crematorium
Thirteen-Year-Old Photographer Lands Volunteer Role on the Yorkshire Coast Railway
Scarborough School Pupils Celebrate Pergola Win
Comments
Add a comment