Councillors in Knowsley will not receive a pay rise in the coming year.
An independent panel has determined there is no need to raise members allowances for the next 12 months and has recommended basic allowances remain at the current level of £10,107.55. A report to go before a meeting of whole member Knowsley Council next week has detailed the way members will be paid in 2022/23.
It said the council’s 2022/23 budget provides for the cost of Members’ Allowances which would be payable under the current decision-making structure. Any cost increases arising from changes to that structure would require additional funding.
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It added that any savings would help to reduce the financial pressures faced by the council’s services in the coming years. According to the documents provided to councillors, Knowsley leader Graham Morgan will receive £30,322.65 - three times the basic allowance for members.
Cabinet members are in receipt of 1.5 times the allowance at £15,161. The Mayor of Knowsley, currently Cllr Frank Walsh and whose successor will be confirmed during Wednesday’s meeting at the council’s chambers in Huyton, is paid slightly more than other councillors at £10,373.47.
The fees have been determined by the Independent Remuneration Panel and assessed “the significant responsibilities and workload placed upon local authority Elected Members.” The report added that the panel “is clear that a Scheme of Allowances is intended to recognise the time commitment, role and responsibilities undertaken by Elected Members and that personal financial constraints should not be a bar to holding office.”
The panel was of the opinion that the uplifting of members’ allowances linked to the pay award given to Local Government Service employees is to reflect the rise in the cost of living and, as such, was content that the existing arrangements should continue for the current structure and any future proposals. The decision to maintain the same rate of pay for councillors is unlike neighbouring Liverpool Council, which is expected to sign off on an increase of 1.75% for its members when it also meets next Wednesday at Liverpool Town Hall.
Councillors in Liverpool are to be awarded £10,775 per year - a raise of £185 should members approve the recommendation from the independent panel.
