Conwy councillors give themselves 2.5% pay rise

Dec 18 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

Cash

COUNCILLORS have been accused of being greedy after giving themselves a 2.45% pay rise.

The hike means the basic allowance for a councillor in 2009/10 will increase from £12,718 to £13,030 and will be backdated to June 2008.

Only two councillors voted against the rise - Llandudno’s Christine Jones and Colwyn Bay’s Abdul Khan.

The total councillor allowance bill is over £1 million pre-tax. Conwy County Council is already cash-strapped after receiving a poor settlement from the Assembly and there’s already talk that council tax will have to rise by 5% next year.

Cllr Jones commented: “I think it’s wrong giving ourselves a 2.45% rise at a time when many people are struggling financially.

“We are going through an exceptionally hard time with small businesses having difficulty coping with the credit crunch and many shops and even large stores closing their doors. It’s tragic that stores like Woolworth and MFI will finish trading in Conwy, making many redundant.

“It’s always sad to see redundancies, particularly at this time of year when many people go without the basics so their children can experience Christmas like other families.

“Prior to the last election it was reported in the Weekly News that most councillors weren’t in it for the money. How can they say that now?”

Cllr Khan added: “I don’t think it’s right to vote in this rise when so many are losing their jobs.”

However, Llandudno Junction Mike Priestley says his allowance enables him to work full time on his environment portfolio: “I think it’s wrong there isn’t an independent panel to decide on the allowance rise as it’s like Santa Claus voting for Christmas.

“What I will say is that it has allowed me to work full time on improving the recycling scheme in Conwy. If it wasn’t for the allowance I’d have to get a part time job to pay my mortgage and I wouldn’t be able to work so hard for the council.”

Cllr Jason Weyman, who also runs Deganwy post office, added: “The allowance allows me to recruit someone to run the post office in my absence when I have to go to a meeting. I certainly didn’t become a councillor for the money as I don’t make any extra money from it.”

Denbighshire councillors have also voted for the 2.45% rise while Gwynedd has frozen allowances.

Send your views on the pay rise to the editorial address on page 2 or e-mail news.desk@northwalesnews.co.uk