Monmouthshire County Council has published its Members’ Salaries for the year 2010-11. And the total amount paid out has reduced by over £4500 when compared to last year’s (2009-10) figures. Members’ Salaries (formally called allowances) are paid at basic and senior rates. Senior rates (formerly Special Responsibility Allowance) are paid to members that hold particular responsibilities beyond their duties as a ward member.
The majority of members have not accepted any increase in their basic or special responsibility allowances since Dec 2008. This is despite a recommendation by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) in 2010 that the maximum payable for each should rise. The council accepted this recommendation, but most Members chose not to accept the new allowance rate.
The leader of Monmouthshire County Council, Cllr Peter Fox said:
“Being a councillor requires a huge amount of time. That obviously impacts on your ability to hold a full time job. So it’s only right that members receive an annual allowance, which is now recognised as a basic salary, to reflect that. I’m pleased to see that most of our members claimed less than the IRP recommended maximum. And that includes members of all parties who claimed special responsibility allowances. “
The full list of Members’ Allowances is available of the Monmouthshire County council web site.4
