Huge pay rise for councillors (From Stroud News and Journal)

Huge pay rise for councillors

THE WAGE bill for councillors at Ebley Mill has risen by almost £200,000.

Stroud District Council leader John Stephenson-Oliver (Con, Painswick) will receive an allowance totalling £19,050 per annum and his deputy Chas Fellows (Con, Chalford) will take home £11,150.

The Conservatives rejected the independent panel's allowance scheme last year when they seized power from the Labour alliance but on Thursday night they voted to up allowances from a total of around £87,000 to just over £275,000 per annum. Council tax payers will foot the bill.

"Allowances have lagged behind for many years," said Cllr Stephenson-Oliver.

"This is simply bringing us up to date.

"By the time it is reviewed again we will still be behind."

Under the scheme drawn up by the independent panel, all 51 councillors will receive a £3,700 allowance.

Cabinet members will get an additional £6,800 and the chairmen of the influential development control and scrutiny committees will get an extra £3,950.

Other, smaller amounts will be paid to opposition group leaders and chairmen and vice-chairmen of other committees.

The leader of Gloucester City Council is paid an allowance of £37,520 per year and his counterpart in Cheltenham gets just over £15,000.

Leaders of Cotswold, Tewkesbury and Forest of Dean District Councils receive £3,000, £5,200 and £3,400 per annum respectively.

As part of the new scheme, councillors will have to produce a quarterly update and an annual report and the council will publish a quarterly attendance record.