A group of former Liverpool Labour members will oppose a recommended pay rise for city councillors.
On Wednesday, Liverpool Council is expected to approve a 1.75% pay uplift for its 90 members, increasing their annual allowance to £10,775 per year - a rise of £185. The change in allowances is inline with the agreed National Joint Council (NJC) employee pay award.
The total cost of payment to councillors to the annual budget is almost £1.4m. The plans were recommended for approval by the local authority’s constitutional issues committee earlier this month.
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The newly assembled group of independent and former Labour councillors have indicated they will move to object to the proposed lift. The Liverpool Community Independents group said they will donate their rise to a community cause should the increase go ahead.
Group leader, Cllr Anna Rothery, said: “With the rising cost of food and fuel and the added pressures of job insecurity plus the introduction of the green bin charges, I believe it is insensitive for an administration that is failing in so many areas to vote in favour of a pay increase. I challenged the 50% pay rise demanded by the commissioners in this city. How could this be right when we have residents, children to elders, struggling to make ends meet?
“I will challenge the 1.75% pay rise for elected members. While I recognise there are many committed full time elected members who depend solely on this income, I’m also mindful that the recent energy contract debacle does not warrant a rise for the very same administration who created a £16m funding gap that will directly impact on our schools, many of whom will be placed in the dire position of choosing between heating schools and providing much needed services such as classroom assistants.
“It may also lead to reducing the school dinner portions in order to make cost savings so our children will not only be cold, but hungry too.” Group deputy leader Cllr Alan Gibbons said following the controversy surrounding the council’s energy contract, the cabinet should lead on objecting to a pay rise.
He said: “While we are in favour of councillors being paid appropriately, we believe that, given the extreme circumstances of the £16m energy bill fiasco and the cost-of-living crisis, we should make a symbolic gesture of solidarity to the people of Liverpool and forego the rise, saving the council in the region of £1.4m. We have been rightly critical of the staggering 50% pay rise for commissioners. neighbouring Knowsley has not raised allowances.
“If this rise is passed, I will donate it to a community cause in my ward. Frankly, the cabinet whose performance has been woeful in the energy bill fiasco, and should be leading on this.”
The plans will be discussed at the full meeting of Liverpool Council at Liverpool Town Hall on Wednesday.
