Councillors deserve a 2.5% rise in wages, says pay body

Published on Monday 29 September 2008 20:26

COUNCILLORS should get a 2.5 per cent rise in salaries, a pay body recommended yesterday.

Ian Livingstone, chairman of the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC), said the figure was in line with public-sector pay limits.

Councillors should also be given a 25 allowance if they stay overnight with friends or family – as it avoids running up hotel bills.

Mr Livingstone said: "This is first time councillor salary levels have been uprated since we reported in January 2006.

"An increase of 2.5 per cent is in line with current public-sector pay limits and we feel goes part way to addressing the gap since the original level was set. This review has addressed some catch up on salaries, which should be reviewed on an annual basis in future."

SLARC is an independent public body set up three years ago to advise on councillors' pay and expenses.

It is recommending the 2.5 per cent increase from April 1 both this year and next.

Allowances and receipted expenses rates have also been reviewed as part of the report, Mr Livingstone added.

"Councils generally welcomed the clarity and transparency of the new system in May 2007," he said. "A few issues have been identified and we have tried to address these, where possible."

Overnight bed and breakfast subsistence should also go up to 131 per night for London from 118, and to 110 for elsewhere in the UK from 94.

The report has been sent to the Scottish Government to consider.