By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Tewkesbury council leaders say they will forgo part of their pay as councillors voted for a “huge” increase to allowances to address a historic anomaly.
Tewkesbury Borough Councillors approved the recommendations of an independent remuneration panel which will mean the basic allowance will rise by 2.5 per cent.
Part of their proposals which seek to address an anomaly which will see the council leader allowance jump in April from £16,800 to £25,510. A rise of 51.8 per cent.
Richard Blamey, chair of the independent remuneration panel, presented the report at the meeting on January 28.
He said they formally recognise the hard work and commitment of Borough Councillors.
“We have said for a number of years that we were unable to recommend increases in your basic allowances.
“Your basic allowance remains among the highest in the country. However, we do recognise the impact of inflation and so this year we feel it is appropriate to recommend an increase of 2.5 per cent which is £200 in your basic allowance.
He also told the meeting that the council’s special responsibility allowance appeared to be very low in comparison to others in Gloucestershire and across the country.
“Accordingly we are recommending significant increases for the SRAs. We also wish to correct an anomaly whereby the leader and deputy leader will in future receive an allowance for their lead member roles.”
A carer’s allowance for councillors will also increase from £10.42 to £12.21.
Councillor David Gray (C, Winchcombe), whose Conservative colleagues voted against the increase, asked about the 51.8 per cent increase the council leader will be entitled to.
“In 2024, our illustrious leader would have got the basic allowance, £7650, plus 9150. That would be it. A total of £16,800.”
He said under the latest proposals the leader would also be entitled to an allowance of £5885 for being a group leader. With the proposed increases the council leader would be entitled to an allowance of £25,510, Cllr Gray added.
“That would represent an increase of 51.8 per cent,” he said.
Mr Blamey said that was the anomaly the panel’s recommendations seek to address. Cllr Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) thanked the panel for their work and took the point that they were big changes to the allowances.
“I would personally like to forgo the recommended increase to the leader role,” he said. “I will be forgoing that element of the increase.
“By forgoing that increase that would bring us very much in line with the average of the area.
“By comparison Cheltenham Borough Council’s leader allowance is £27,799 so £11,000 more than I’m currently earning.
“The leader of Gloucester City Council is on over £30,000 a year. The average for our county is £22,350. By forgoing the addition that should keep me in line with the average.”
His deputy Cllr Sarah Hands (LD, Innsworth), also said she would be forgoing the deputy leader element of the allowance.
Both councillors pledged to do so in writing and share this with all members.
The council voted to approve the increase by 17 votes in favour, 11 against and there were five abstentions.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Gray said the “generous” increases were “rather difficult to swallow in one go”.
“It results in a large increase in year on year costs for residents, something exacerbated by Rachel Reeves national insurance tax raid,” he said.
“Historically Tewkesbury Borough Council have for a number of years been rather parsimonious in granting increases to members allowances, possibly because members and past leadership wished to engage in, perhaps foolish, virtue signaling.”