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PAY HIKE: Councillor John Merry is given a 14.1 per cent increase.
Merry Christmas... for council leader John, who’s just been given a 14.1% pay rise
Ailsa Cranna22/12/2005
EXCLUSIVE
SALFORD Council's leader is certain to enjoy a 'Merry' Christmas this year after his pay was increased by 14.1 per cent.
That means as leader John Merry now gets £26,000 per year, in addition to the basic allowance given to all councillors, and travel expenses.
Councillor Merry's salary - called a 'special allowance' - rockets from £22,779. He will also receive a basic allowance for being a councillor, which rises from £8,526 to £9,300 - an increase of 9.1 per cent.
Compared to last year when he claimed a total of £31,403 - which included £1,343 in travelling expenses - he can now claim a minimum of £35,300; and that does not include travel costs.
The increases, which were recommended in an independent report, were approved by Full Council before councillors went off for their Christmas lunch. The new scale will be backdated to April.
All councillors get the basic allowance, and those with extra responsibility are paid more on a sliding-scale, with the leader getting the biggest slice.
But Cllr John Merry was not the only one to benefit from a double-digit increase. Lead members are to get a 31.8 per cent hike.
Lead members, who are in charge of the council departments, will now get £12,000 - up from £9,108 - in addition to the basic allowance.
Lib Dem councillor for Claremont Stephen Cooke flatly refused to accept the increase and said he would give his away to charity.
He said "It's inconceivable we can accept these increases when all the other people who work for Salford Council are expected to accept pay rises of about 2.9 per cent.
"I will not be accepting the rise and will give it away to a local charity."
Cllr Merry said: "These rises have come from an independent review. What is the point in asking people to conduct that review if we don't accept their findings?
"I don't agree with everything the review suggests, particularly their opinion that the £5,694 paid to executive support members (deputy lead members) is sufficient.
"However, I'm prepared to accept the report in its entirety and push for changes when our allowances are next reviewed."
He added it was unfair to compare their increases against those of council workers.
Cllr Cooke said he was not surprised the increases had been approved.
He added: "It's crazy to say just because a review is independent it must be accepted. If it suggested they all jump off the top of the building, would they do that too?"
- In addition to the basic allowance of £9,300 (increased from £8,526) the following special responsibility allowances are as follows:
Leader of the Council £26,000 (£22,779), Deputy Leader £13,500 (£11,388), Lead Members £12,000 (£9,108), Executive Support Members £5,694, Chairs of Scrutiny Committees £7,500 (£5,694), Chair of Planning Panel £7,500 (£5,694), Chair of Licensing £7,500 (£2,850), Leaders of Opposition Groups £7,500 (£5,694).
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26/12/2005 at 08:55
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