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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Donald Turvill

The new top team running Edinburgh Council – and how much they're paid

Labour councillors in Edinburgh have taken-up top jobs after forming a minority administration last week.

Elected members voted 32-29 in favour of the group leading the City of Edinburgh Council for the next term.

As a junior coalition partner to the SNP over the past five years, Labour councillors filled vice convenerships and a few convener roles in the previous administration. But now at the helm, some in the group will now take-on the responsibility of developing policy with council officers and chairing committees.

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After several experienced Edinburgh Labour councillors stepped down this month, six of the 13 newly-elected elected cohort are new to the council - and four of this new intake are entering administration roles in their first term.

Labour has taken the decision to ditch vice conveners for the council's executive committees, with some speculating it's because they don't have enough members to fill every position. But a new vice convenership role has been established for the Licensing Board – filled by a member of the Conservative group which unanimously backed Labour's proposals last week.

Furthermore, three members of the Liberal Democrat group, which also voted in favour of Labour forming a minority administration, will be heading up committees. Labour, Tories and the Lib Dems have all denied accusations from the SNP and Greens that the appointments are part of a deal or coalition.

As leader of the Labour group, Cammy Day is now the council leader – having secured a promotion from his previous job as deputy to the SNP's Adam McVey. Cllr Day will also chair the Policy and Resources Committee and receive an annual salary of £58,719.

Stepping into his shoes as the new deputy leader of the council is Mandy Watt, who will chair the Finance and Resources Committee on a salary of £44,039 a year.

The Liberal Democrats' Robert Aldridge has been appointed as the city's new Lord Provost, also on £44,039, and his deputy is Labour's Lezley Cameron who's annual salary is £29,360. Stephen Jenkinson, Labour, is confirmed as the council's appointment to the board of NHS Lothian.

All other committee conveners, paid £36,699 per annum, are:

  • Culture and Communities : Val Walker (Labour)
  • Transport and Environment : Scott Arthur (Labour) (interim convener)
  • Housing and Economy (changed from Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work): Jane Meagher (Labour)
  • Education, Children and Families : Joan Griffiths (Labour)
  • Licensing Board : Louise Young (Liberal Democrats)
  • Planning : James Dalgleish (Labour)
  • Regulatory : Neil Ross (Liberal Democrats)
  • Integration Joint Board : Tim Pogson (Labour)
  • Development Sub-Committee : Hal Osler (Liberal Democrats)
  • Licensing Sub-Committee : Joanna Mowat (Conservatives)

The only vice convener on the council now is the Tories' Jason Rust, who will be second in command on the Licensing Board on a salary of £29,360.

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