Politicians in Wrexham set to receive pay rise despite voicing concerns

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) has determined that basic salaries should be increased across the whole country by more than £260 and by £800 for lead members.

Some councillors in Wrexham have voiced their opposition to the proposals in light of the millions of pounds worth of cuts the local authority has made in recent years.

It also comes at a time when residents are facing a 5.5 per cent increase in their council tax bill.

However, while they will later have an individual choice over whether to forego all or part of their pay, the panel said the council ‘must’ implement its decision during a meeting of all 52 elected representatives next week.

The changes would come into effect from April at an additional cost of £20,756.

In a report, council leader Mark Pritchard (Ind) said the panel felt the rise was justified.

He said: “The IRPW note in their report that when setting the basic salary in 2009 it was aligned to the medium gross earnings of all full time employees living in Wales and was payable at three-fifths of that rate.

“If the alignment had continued the basic salary would now be closer to £16,000 per annum but increases have not kept pace due to the pressures on public expenditure.

“The IRPW considers that the increase will help to limit further erosion of relative levels of remuneration in the basic salary paid to elected members.

“Although public sector funding continues to be constrained, the IRPW consider that a further increase in the basic salary is justified and based on the IRPW’s principle that its determinations should be affordable and acceptable.

“Any member who wishes not to receive the payment or who wishes to exercise their right not to receive the whole amount must notify the head of finance in writing.”

Councillors will be asked to note the IRPW’s decision to increase their pay at a meeting on Wednesday (DEL MARCH 27 2019).