Labour Call for Councillor Pay Freeze

At last night’s Full Council meeting, Labour Leader Paul Godwin called for a freeze on councillors’ pay.  He proposed an amendment to the report on Members’ Allowances directed at the SRAs (Special Responsibility Allowances).
Members’ allowances go up in line with the annual pay award for staff.  The amendment proposed that the Basic Allowance should increase as set out, but the SRA increases should be frozen for one year.  SRAs are granted to members of all groups, including six Labour members.
Cllr Godwin called for the freeze in recognition of the increasing costs of Council services for residents, and the redundancies and pay cuts for Council staff.
Cllr Godwin said,
“Labour Group members wanted to make a gesture to acknowledge the financial difficulties facing both staff and residents owing to Council cuts and increased service charges.”
“We felt it appropriate that the Basic Allowance should go up for all councillors but that the increases to SRAs should be frozen for one year.  Whilst the financial situation is so bleak it seems inappropriate that those, including myself, who already get additional money from the Council should see their allowance go up.”
“As I suspected, the Tories voted the amendment down.  I had hoped that they would set aside party politics and be magnanimous, but instead they have demonstrated their selfish attitude and above all their contempt for residents.”
ENDS

For further comment please contact Cllr Paul Godwin on 01634 865944 or Mobile: 07740 590047.  Alternatively contact the Group office