Midlothian councillors quickly approved a 56% pay raise for senior colleagues. It happened in under a minute. Council tax also rises.
Councillors looked at a report about salary increases and decided how much more senior members should get paid. They approved the maximum increase allowed. Senior councillors’ pay goes from £24,016 to £37,548 yearly.
The Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee reviewed payments. This led the Scottish Government to move some councils up a grade. Wages of council leaders are set nationally. Local authorities could raise senior councillors’ wages up to 75% of new council leader salary.
Midlothian’s eight senior councillors got 67% of the council leader’s pay last year. These councillors are in the cabinet and are opposition leaders.
Council leader Kelly Parry proposed senior members receive the maximum raise. Their pay will be 75% of her salary. Councillor Derek Milligan seconded it. She will get over a 40% increase from £35,563 to £50,063.
No one discussed the report, and it was unanimously approved. Next, they raised fees for public services and approved the 10% council tax and leisure center cuts.
The salary increase report said the budget impact is £122,550.73 yearly. This assumes current pay percentages relative to the leader. Councillors can refuse their pay, and the council will not pay the remuneration.
The basic councillor wage is based on public service worker pay, going from £21,345 to £25,982. The Scottish Government sets this amount and sets pay for leaders.
East Lothian Council will give its leader £50,068 too. They also moved into Band B. The senior councillor increase is not decided yet.
Councillor Kelly Parry said the changes remove barriers, noting this change helps diverse representation. Midlothian had the lowest paid councillors in Scotland. The redistribution puts them in line with other councils.