Kirklees councillors get annual pay rise of £375

The money, known as a basic allowance, is paid to all 69 elected members for carrying out their ward duties.

The increase was due to come into force in April but was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. It will apply until March 31, 2021.

At a virtual meeting of Full Council (Sept 9) all but one member voted to approve the 2.75% increase, which is in line with that paid to officers on Kirklees Council.

The vote took less than four minutes.

Councillor Aleks Lukic, the Dewsbury Borough Independents member for Dewsbury East, said the recommendations on pay made by the Members’ Allowances Independent Review Panel were no longer relevant as they had been overtaken by events related to the coronavirus pandemic.

He commented: “They don’t reflect the reality of the situations our constituents are facing, so I don’t personally feel it’s appropriate for me to support the recommendations although I normally would.”

On top of their basic allowances some members receive special responsibility allowances (SRAs).

They include all group leaders, deputy leaders, business managers, chairs of committees and members of the all-Labour decision-making Cabinet.

No councillor receives more than one SRA.

Thus Council Leader Coun Shabir Pandor receives an additional £26,364 while Deputy Leader Clr Peter McBride gets £19,772.

Members of Cabinet each receive £12,833.

Coun David Hall and John Lawson, who lead the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups, each receive £10,291 whilst Clr Charles Greaves and Clr Andrew Cooper, leaders of the Independents and Greens, each get £3,860.

Coun Liz Smaje, the chair of Overview and Scrutiny, receives £11,577.

Other SRAs per annum:

Business Manager (30+ councillors) £10,291

Business Manager (20-29 councillors) £7,719

Chairs of Planning Committees £6,432

Lead Members of Scrutiny Panels £6,432

Police and Crime Panel Members £6,288

Business Manager (7-19 councillors) £5,147

Chair of Licensing and Safety Committee £5,147

Place Partnership Lead Members £5,147

Deputy Group Leader (12+ councillors) £3,860

Chair of Appeals panel £3,860

Chair of Corporate Governance and Audit Committee £2,572

Chair of Standards Committee £2,572

Business Manager (3-6 councillors) £2,572

Adoption Panel member £1,285

Fostering Panel member £119 (day rate)