Independent councillor vows to again vote against allowance rise

INDEPENDENT councillor Stuart Mann has vowed he will once again vote against plans to increase allowances at Warrington Borough Council.

He says he will personally write to council officers, instructing them to keep his own allowance capped at the 2021/22 rate he was given when he came into office.

Cllr Mann, Independent councillor for Burtonwood & Winwick, said the financial pressures facing the council make it “impossible to justify” another increase. If the latest recommendation is approved, it will mean allowances have increased by more than 20 per cent since 2021/2022.

Speaking ahead of the vote at full council next week, on a proposed 3.2 per cent increase annually until 2028, Cllr Mann said: “For the second year in a row and the third vote on councillor allowances since I was elected in May 2024, I will vote against this rise and I will again write to officers to freeze my allowance at the 2021/22 level.
“I would also call on ANY councillor who also votes against the increase, to back that up with action, and they too cap their allowance— otherwise it’s a vote without substance.”
He added: “I respect and expect that every member must consider their own personal circumstances, but we also have a responsibility to think about the wider financial picture and the cost to the people of Warrington.”
Since May 2024 alone, councillor allowances have risen substantially, and if the latest recommendation is approved, the total increase since 2021/22 will exceed 20%.
Cllr Mann said this trend is “completely out of step” with the council’s current position:
“Residents are facing rising costs, services are under pressure, and we are still working through the consequences of a very serious Best Value Inspection. This is not the time to be awarding ourselves more money.”

Cllr Mann highlighted several major financial risks facing Warrington Borough Council:

• A £30 million reduction required in this year’s budget
• A significant projected overspend in the current financial year
• Ongoing concerns following the Best Value Inspection
• The ongoing closure risk at Woolston Neighbourhood Hub, which remains shut and faces uncertainty over its future

He continued: “When we are talking about £30 million in cuts, when we have a major community hub still closed with no guaranteed reopening, and when we are staring at another multi-million-pound overspend, it would be wrong for councillors to take more money from the public purse.”
Cllr Mann says the choice should be clear: “If you vote against the increase, don’t take the increase. My message is simple — match your vote with your actions.”
He emphasised this was about leadership during difficult times:
“We all recognise the huge time and commitment councillors put in. But leadership sometimes means making decisions that reflect the reality our residents are living with. The council’s finances are under unprecedented pressure — and we have to lead by example.”
Cllr Mann confirmed he will make his instruction to officers — to cap his allowance at the old rate — immediately after the vote.

Next Monday, December 1, at Full Council, councillors will be asked to vote on plans for a 3.2 per cent rise. An independent panel has recommended the increase, which, if they agree, would be backdated to last April.
The increase would then be annual at the same rate until 2028.
The average pay increase would be from £10,577.77 a year to £10,916.
There would also be a rise in special responsibility allowances for the likes of the council leader, the mayor and cabinet members.
The leader’s allowance would rise from £25,000 to £27,000 and the deputy from £15,012 to £20,250.
Cabinet members would see an increase from £10,008 to £13,500.
The report says the rises are benchmarked against those for other similar local authorities.