Councillors vote through £1.7k pay rise

The increase to their basic allowance was voted through by Staffordshire Moorlands district councillors on Wednesday

Councillors in the Staffordshire Moorlands have voted to increase their own annual pay by more than £1,700.

The basic allowance for all councillors will rise from £2,902 per year to £4,638 per year, after the decision was approved on Wednesday.

The Labour-run authority said the increase would help attract a more diverse range of people to the role.

Under the council’s previous Conservative administration, rates were frozen for more than a decade.

All councillors receive the basic allowance, while some of those on committees will receive additional payments.

The total cost of councillor pay before the increase was £254,229 annually and the rises will take it to £368,049, about 3% of the authority's overall budget.

The basic allowance change will be backdated to the start of the current financial year.

Conservative councillor Joe Porter told Labour it was not a wise thing to do after only being in power for six months.

Fellow Conservative Mike Worthington said he felt the timing of the decision was poor given the current cost of living crisis many people were facing.

Councillors defend pay rise

Labour’s Jill Salt said some councillors were affected by the cost of living crisis and the increase would help promote greater diversity.

Independent councillor Linda Malyon also defended the move and said it would mean she had more money for projects in her community.

Labour council leader Mike Gledhill said the existing allowance scheme had been found not fit for purpose by an independent panel.

He also cited inflation and increases to the minimum wage as justifications for the increases.