Council Leader Kathleen Robertson discusses councillor pay rises. She says a large rise seems like a lot after new rules.
Kathleen Robertson spoke to The Northern Scot, discussing her and other councillors’ pay. Her £15,000 rise came from the government, not Moray Council’s choice. Council leader pay is fixed by law, based on the council’s size, and guided by an independent report.
Moray Council used to be in the lowest pay group, Band A for council sizes. The report changed the bands, moving Moray and nine others up a pay level. Robertson also said basic councillor pay was very low, and needed to increase.
Government rules raised councillor pay from £21,345 to £25,982. One past council member even got Universal Credit because of the low pay.
The council also decided to increase senior councillor pay for those chairing important committees. Moray Council sets the number of these roles and their salary levels. Councillors voted to raise pay for eight roles by £5000, to £31,764, at the lower end of suggested pay. Council then voted down two changes that would have cut senior roles.