Highland councillor Michael Gregson objects to proposed 21.7 per cent pay hike saying ‘they are not reading the room’ because ‘the people are just not feeling the love, and this excessive pay rise to ourselves certainly won’t change that perception’
Highland councillors’ proposed 21.7 per cent pay rise has been slammed by one Labour member as “shoddy head-in-the-sand stuff” and “disproportionate”.
Inverness Central Councillor Michael Gregson believes the raise which is due to be approved at Thursday’s full council meeting “is just wrong. They’re not reading the room”.
• Highland councillors set to get inflation busting 21% pay hike adding around £500k to the wage bill
Councillor pay has been famously low – the highest paid elected member, the council leader gets a healthy £49,810 while the council chief executive gets £184,000.
Despite the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC) making the recommendations, Cllr Gregson simply does not believe now is the right time.
“With the seven per cent Council Tax rise, rents up by eight per cent, and the pre-existing higher prices people pay in the Highlands, this pay award is just wrong,” he said. “They’re not reading the room.
“I pointed out at the last full council that no matter what big promises and announcements the administration makes, the people are just not feeling the love, and this excessive pay rise to ourselves certainly won’t change that perception.
“With wage growth predicted to be only narrowly above Consumer Price Inflation, and pressure on people’s budgets, councillors should not be taking 21.7% pay rises. Especially when many are not impressed with the council’s performance.
“Frankly it doesn’t matter that The Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC) has reported that substantial rises are needed, the point is that it’s disproportionate.
“According to SLARC, Highland is in Band C and can have a Leader, Civic Head and up to a maximum of 19 further Senior Councillors.
“So Thursday’s proposals are for £60,791 for the Council Leader and all Strategic Chairs up to £37,173, with the Vice-Chairs on £28,544. ‘Backbench’ Councillors’ pay will rise to 25,982.
“The Members’ salary budget, including on-costs, will increase by £0.490 million to £2.264 million. This is head-in-the-sand stuff, ignoring the very evident issues which are far from being fixed – in Roads and Infrastructure, Education, Social Work, Housing.
“Given that a Motion of mine on Mobile Phones in Schools, seconded by Cllr Helen Crawford, was rejected from this meeting as officers hadn’t made an Impact Assessment, it is ironic that nobody can have made any Impact Assessment of these pay rises. Because the impact will be terrible, in terms of the public perception of the Council.
“I hope a sensible Opposition amendment will prevail on Thursday.”
