Plans to give Bath and North East Somerset councillors a £3,500 pay rise have been pushed back by a year because of the pandemic.
The Guildhall in Bath
Despite the ongoing pressure on the council’s finances, an independent panel has recommended increasing the basic allowance from £7,993 to £11,555 over five years.
Councillors said they did not stand for election to get an extra income but the current sum – £6,300 less than in Bristol – puts off people who work full time or have caring responsibilities.
Deputy council leader Richard Samuel said the current crop of candidates is “slanted towards older people and I’m afraid it is very male”.
“If we are to attract more younger councillors and more councillors from ethnic minorities we do need to ensure that for those people who very likely will be at the start of their working lives there is an allowance paid that enables them to live satisfactorily,” he said.
Councillor Samuel said the sum must not act as a disincentive for future councillors, whose workloads increased when their number was cut from 65 to 59 in 2019, or place an unrealistic financial burden on the council.
The independent panel recommended increasing the basic allowance to £8,951 in 2021/22 and increase incrementally to £11,555 by 2025/26.
Cllr Dr Kumar said members are paid “peanuts” and their hourly rate is well below the minimum wage, but no one gets elected to claim an allowance.
“A councillor’s role comes with a huge level of stress, trolling on social media and open abuse on the street,” said the Bathwick councillor, who donates much of his allowance.
“You are not here to make a living, you’re here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement, you are here to enrich the community.”
All members receive the basic allowance and those with special responsibilities get paid extra, like the cabinet members and committee chairs.
New council leader Kevin Guy, who could receive nearly £50,000 for his role, said: “There’s a huge gulf between perception and reality when it comes to council allowances.
“If you talk to our constituents they think we’re on tens and tens of thousands of pounds and we’ve all got our noses in the trough.
“When you actually tell them the basic allowance for a councillor is £8,000 they normally think you’re lying to them or you’re joking.
“The basic allowance inhibits certain members of our community that could make great contributions to this council and therefore make great contributions to the community from coming forward and being councillors because they would have to give up their job, their time looking after their children etc.”
He said that was not acceptable, but nor is councillors increasing their allowance when so many people are struggling from the Covid crisis.
Cllr Tim Ball said the decision should be made in 2023 ahead of the election so members were not voting for their own pay rise.
The council voted to bring in the increase next year in recognition of the impact of Covid-19 on residents.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
