Wakefield councillors approve 2.2 per cent rise in allowances

Basic allowances will increase from £11,095 to £11,339 and the leader’s allowance will go up from £33,854 to £34,598.

The deputy leader’s allowance will now be £18,099 from £17,709.

Wakefield Council approved the rise recommended by its Independent Remuneration Panel at a meeting at the city’s County Hall today (Wednesday).

The increase will be backdated to July 1.

Ian Brown, chairman of the panel, presented a report detailing the group’s recommendations to the meeting.

He said: “Our recommendations are that councillors are given the same pay award as officers - a 2.2 per cent rise.

“What I would stress is that the recommendations are just that. It is up to the council to approve them.”

Councillors voted in support of the recommendations without debate.

The rise will also see cabinet members’ allowances rise from £13,299 to 13,592 and deputy portfolio holders will rise from £5,050 to £5,161.

Chairmen and women of the council’s overview and scrutiny committees and the planning and highways committee allowances will increase from £8,890 to £9,085.

The opposition leader’s allowance will be £6,868 - up from £6,721 last year.

The mayor allowance will rise from £14,744 to £15,068 and the deputy mayor will increase from £5,788 to £5,915.