A pay rise was agreed for Argyll and Bute’s senior councillors after a heated debate at yesterday’s full council meeting.
Members were informed that the Scottish Government has introduced legislation to increase the salaries of basic councillors, the council leader and the civic head (provost).
Effective from April 1, the pay increase for 2016-17 is 1%. The standard councillors’ salary is £16,893, provost £25,341 and leader £33,789.
The council has discretion on the remuneration arrangements for senior councillors and has historically adopted the same percentage increase as that set nationally.
Councillors were asked to consider whether to apply the same increase to senior councillors on the basis of parity.
For senior councillors, the existing rate for a policy lead was £23,697 and with a 1% increase this would be £23,934.
Council Leader Dick Walsh said: “I move that the council agrees to accept the payment of an increase of 1% goes across to all current council remuneration levels.”
Councillor Sandy Taylor, leader of the SNP group, said that in light of recent services choices made by the council at its budget meeting, there should be no increase for senior councillors.
He said: “It is a modest but important gesture for the public at this time.”
Councillor Gordon Freeman agreed. He said: “In these days of staff being made redundant I think it is unacceptable to be proposing further uplift for members.”
This was also backed by Councillor James Robb, who said: “Is £6,800 over the basic salary not enough? I think it is.”
However the administration members felt the pay rise for senior councillors was appropriate.
Councillor Roddy McCuish said: “If you do more I think you should get paid more for that responsibility. It is open to any member, should they not wish to take that extra money, they can do that.”
And Councillor Aileen Morton added: “Unlike other councillors with pensions and properties, my council salary is my only income. I have a mortgage to pay, children to feed.”
The leader’s proposal was carried by 18 votes to 12.
