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North Lincolnshire councillors increase their allowances for first time in over a decade

For the first time in over a decade, North Lincolnshire councillors are getting an increased allowance.

The basic allowance a councillor gets per year will increase by 3.9 per cent, in line with CPI inflation, from £6,874 to £7,642. The increase is being paid for by the scrapping of a steel ambassador role.

Councillors do not receive a salary, but get an allowance, effectively paying for their time as elected members. North Lincolnshire councillors have for a number of years repeatedly rejected independent remuneration panel recommendations to increase their allowances.

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But the increase this time was agreed, on the basis of encouraging future younger councillors. North Lincolnshire councillors’ basic allowance level is the lowest in the Humber region and, even with the increase, is less than half that which Hull councillors receive. It was last changed in 2011.

“This is always a very difficult paper to speak on, I find,” said Conservative council leader Cllr Rob Waltham. He spoke of how being a councillor is a full-time job, and mentioned replying to residents emails at 1-2am in the morning. He thanked the Conservative and Labour groups for repeatedly declining independent recommendations to increase allowances before. But he supported an increase now to better reflect in future the local authority’s population.

“For an awful long time, people have acknowledged that we’re never going to get new, younger councillors,” he said, adding they may have to compromise on their salaries unless a manageable allowance increase was made. “What we’re doing today is for future councillors to be able to commit to the role.”

“Allowances of any kind for elected members are never ever popular with the electorate,” said a reflective Labour group leader Cllr Len Foster.



Cllr Len Foster, pictured, called for councillors to have a minimum level of training
Cllr Len Foster, pictured, called for councillors to have a minimum level of training

He added: “No-one comes to this to make a fortune. There are far more lucrative careers.” The reality of consistently saying ‘no’ to recommended allowance increases was an older council, Cllr Foster suggested.

“We end up with, and I include myself in this, many grey hairs in the chamber. And we end up with many old, rich people, or people with pensions.” Cllr Foster did, however, call for in future a minimum level of training for councillors, adding: “And if don’t achieve, you don’t get any allowance. You wouldn’t allow an untrained craftsman in your house.”

The members’ allowances change was agreed by full council at its budget meeting on Thursday, February 22, before its abandonment, due to a man being taken ill.

Councillors with responsibilities will also see a three per cent increase in their special responsibilities allowance. For example, the council leader’s allowance is increasing by £500, to £17,303.

The remuneration scheme also beds in planned three per cent increases in allowances in 2025/26 and 2026/27.

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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe

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