Independent fails in bid to stop councillors voting to increase their allowances

AN independent councillor has once more failed to dissuade colleagues from cash-strapped Warrington Borough Council to reject a rise in members’ allowances.

At a full council meeting at Warrington Parr Hall last night, a majority of the councillors present supported the proposed increases, recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel, despite Cllr Stuart Mann’s objections.

The Independent Burtonwood and Winwick councillor said: “Many of you will recall my concerns and personal stance in relation to the retrospective increase in allowances of 6.2% for the year 22/23 and 10.4% for 23/24 passed within these walls at the full council meeting held on June 17.
“So I’m sure it will not come as any surprise to see me standing before you again to once again reiterate those words and, more importantly, reinforce them this time with additional concern.
“Whilst I still do not dare to assume the personal circumstances of any of my fellow councillors….. I once again urge this council to consider how any vote in favour of an increase in allowance will look to the people of our great town.”
He said since June we are still yet to see the outcome of The Best Value Inspection and the council had lost its credit rating.
“But now added to these is the very serious risk of a £28m overspend in this financial year forcing targeted interventions across our council services, including council-wide voluntary redundancies.”
He said a resident had expressed concern about services such as leaf and drain clearing not happening.
He cited Professor Steven Broomhead’s warning to council staff last month about carrying the overspend and using reserves to cover it, saying that it “won’t leave us enough in reserves to deal with forecast savings across 2025/6.”
Cllr Mann added it was his understanding the recommendations made by the IRP added to those made in June is approximately £106,000 per annum.

The Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) met in October and approved the annual payment of £5,004 to the chair of the Housing Policy Committee and £1,176 to the deputy chair.
It recommended an increase in Members Basic Allowance for 2024/5 based on 3.4% or £347.81 per councillor for the 58 elected members of the council this totalled £20,172.98. The leader of the council’s special responsibility allowance increased from £20,015 to £25,500 for the year 2025/6 which “remained in line with benchmarked authorities.”
The scheme for Special Responsibility Allowance is now to be based on a £400 payment per meeting with a maximum of £2,002 for the chair of the Traffic Committee and Appeals Committee for the civic year 2025/6. The broadband and landline allowance for councillors will be removed from January 1, 2025.

Cllr Mann cited council jobs being advertised he explained he would rather see “at least one of these vitally essential roles” being available “than to vote in favour of these recommendations.”
Concluding, he insisted that his own councillor’s allowance is capped at 2021/22 levels.
Bewsey and Whitecross Labour councillor Tom Jennings said the IRP is clear that the role of councillor is not a full-time job and “that should be respected.”
Explaining it was the second review since June, he suggested “giving the IRP a rest.”
He urged councillors to “join together in collective endeavours for the people outside this chamber.”
Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall Labour Cllr Hitesh Patel said: “I have not read the report which has been done by independent people. I would not debate it but I would just vote it through.”
Poulton North Labour Cllr Graham Friend compared the remuneration with the national minimum wage. He said 22.5 hours a week is how much each councillor spends working multiplied by 52 weeks is “around £13,000 and we’re paid less than the minimum wage.”
Lymm South Liberal Democrat Cllr Graham Gowland said the concept was brought in by the government of 2011 (Lib Dems in coalition with Conservatives.)
“I am reasonably financially comfortable,” he said. “The allowance allows people to take time off work.” He compared the Warrington Council allowance with neighbouring Manchester City Council’s £19,000 a year, which he said was “frankly excessive.”
The base allowance, he added, was decided by an independent committee that did a thorough job. But he said he had concerns about specialist allowances for some roles, which he believes need to be capped.
Chapelford and Old Hall Labour Cllr Paul Warburton urged Cllr Patel to read the documents. He also expressed concern about “setting a precedent” with “pay-as-you-go specialist allowances.”
Rixton and Woolston Conservative Cllr Rob Tynan said he concurred with Cllr Mann and he doesn’t do the job “for monetary gain.”
Great Sankey South Labour Cllr Laura Watson said: “In order to do my role, I now work four days a week which means a reduction of 20% in my salary and 20% in the money going into my pension.
“This impacts my future as well as my present. I couldn’t do it (be a councillor) without it (the allowance).”
The motion passed with four councillors voting against including Cllr Stuart Mann and Cllr Fellows and Cllr Judith Wheeler abstaining.