A 27% increase is proposed for members of Liverpool Council when it meets next week
16:55, 16 Jan 2025Updated 16:56, 16 Jan 2025
Liverpool Town Hall(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A veteran councillor has claimed it is “not before time” city leaders were “rewarded” for their work as a proposed 27% pay rise passed a major hurdle. After rejecting an increase in allowances for the past three years, members of Liverpool Council are being encouraged to accept a proposal that would significantly increase their fees for serving their community.
An independent remuneration panel undertook a six month piece of work to assess the city council’s current pay for councillors having recommended rises in 2022, 2023 and last year. After going before members of the city’s constitution and governance committee this week, members have recommended the pay bump – which would increase the basic amount paid to councillors to £13,500 – be adopted when all 84 members are called to meet next week.
Cllr Joe Hanson, the Labour member for Kirkdale, praised the proposals, claiming it would help reward the work councillors do for their communities and aid retention. Dan Sharples, head of democratic services, told committee members how a wholesale review of the scheme had been undertaken for the first time in a number of years.
The officer added how studies had assessed the comparative increase of the average UK salary since the allowances were last increased in 2019. During that time, the average wage has gone up by 21% with councillors only receiving a 2% uplift.
Kirkdale ward councillor Joe Hanson(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A report by the independent remuneration panel said council employee salaries have increased from an average of £28,029 in 2018/19 to £33,024 in 2023/24, representing approximately a 17.8% rise.
Mr Sharples said there was a “huge disparity” in comparison. Core cities were also assessed, with Liverpool considered to be “significantly lower” in comparison to areas like Manchester and Birmingham, which record an average of almost £15,000.
The panel concluded the demands on Liverpool’s councillors are “significantly greater due to the city’s scale and complexity” and that “these factors place additional strain on councillors, requiring more time, expertise and dedication.” Should the recommendations go ahead at full council on Wednesday, basic allowances will increase alongside the amount paid to council chief Liam Robinson.
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
He will receive a 12% increase from £42,100 to £47,250, while his deputy Ruth Bennett would be in line to take home £23,625, up from £16,014. The allowance for cabinet members will be raised from £13,269 to £20,250.
The allowance for the leader of the opposition, Cllr Carl Cashman of the Liberal Democrats, will be increased from £11,341 to £16,875. Scrutiny committee chairs’ allowances could rise from £8,832 to £10,125 while the chair of planning will now bring in £11,475.
Members of the planning committee do not currently get an allowance but will now be paid £2,700 per year on top of their basic allowance. Cllr Hanson said he did not expect the level of increase recommended but was “gratified” to read how the conclusion had been reached.
He said the payment to independent members would also help attract quality candidates. He added: “It’s not before time we reward our councillors, part of it is about recruitment and retention of councillors, it’s extremely important that whatever we’re doing, that reflects the important work all councillors do.”
Mr Sharples added work was still being done around parking arrangements for councillors. The issue of permits was raised after a number of senior members had their tickets wiped out in a controversial scheme.