Mid Devon councillors vote to freeze pay for a year

The move follows pay rises in several other Devon councils

Councillors in mid-Devon have voted to freeze their pay for a year despite an independent panel’s recommendation of a 6.4% rise.

The decision was made at a full Mid Devon District Council meeting where the councillors were asked to consider a recommendation from three independent experts that the basic allowance rise from £6,000 to £6,387 for the next financial year.

Councillor James Buczkowski proposed an amendment that allowances should be frozen for 12 months, with a new independent review during next year to advise on future changes.

He added that he would like the review body to propose an allowance scheme for three subsequent years to “take us past the election cycle and help depoliticise the issue".

"I find it challenging to support any increases in allowances when council budgets are being cut, there are increased charges and council tax, and with the cost-of-living crisis putting a strain on residents," he said.

The meeting heard that mid Devon’s councillors were already on a higher basic allowance than most other district councils, even after those authorities had instituted recent rises, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

Torridge District Council voted to give councillors a 3.9% pay rise to £5,538 after several years of freezes, while East Devon District Council voted through a 20% rise.