Surrey County Council Lib Dems condemn massive Conservative leadership pay rises
Liberal Democrats have condemned a massive increase in Special Responsibility Allowances paid to mainly Conservatives on Surrey County Council and pushed through by the Conservative administration this morning .
Councillor Hazel Watson, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on Surrey County Council said:
"An independent report had already recommended an unacceptable increase of 32% for the Leader of the Council and 56% for the Deputy Leader. The Conservatives have gone much further in forcing through an astonishing 60% increase for both, plus a 36% increase for Cabinet Members and 150% for Cabinet Associates (based on an interim allowance of £5,000).
"The Conservative administration at County Hall is clearly out of touch with reality. They should remember that it is Council Taxpayers who are footing the bill for this large hike in payments to Conservative councillors and the large number of Special Responsibility Allowances, with nearly 60% of county councillors, nearly all of whom are Conservatives, receiving Special Responsibility Allowances.
"It is outrageous that Conservative county councillors have decided to give themselves such large increases in allowances. It is very insensitive and inappropriate at a time when council services to Surrey residents have been cut and many Surrey residents have had little or no pay increases themselves."
ENDS
BASIC AND SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY ALLOWANCES
ANNUAL ALLOWANCES (and number of recipients) | Present Allowance | Recommended by Independent Review Panel | New allowances pushed through by Conservatives | |
Basic Allowance (81) | £11,791 | £12,418 | £12,418 | |
Leader of the Council (1) | £27,000 | £35,548 | £43,000 | |
Deputy Leader (1) | £19,500 | £30,333 | £31,250 | |
Cabinet Member (8) | £16,500 | £22,151 | £22,500 | |
Cabinet Associate (4) | £5,000 (interim payment in 2013/14) | £10,553 | £12,500 | |
Select Committee Chairmen (including Council Overview & Scrutiny and Health Scrutiny) (6) | £10,000 | £7,827 | £10,000 | |
Planning & Regulatory Committee Chairman (1) | £10,000 | £7,827 | £12,000 | |
Audit & Governance Chairman (1) | £9,000 | £7,827 | £9,000 | |
Lead Member for Scrutiny of the Police & Crime Commissioner (1) | - | £7,827 | £8,000 | |
Local Committee Chairmen (11) | £6,000 | £7,827 | £8,000 | |
Pension Fund Board Chairman (1) | - | £4,715 | £8,000 | |
Pension Fund Board Vice-Chairman (1) | - | £1,339 | £1,500 | |
Committee Vice-Chairmen (Select Committees (including Council Overview & Scrutiny and Health Scrutiny), Planning and Audit) (8) | £3,000 | £1,339 | £3,000 | |
Local Committee Vice-Chairmen (11) | - | £1,339 | £1,500 | |
Chairman of Council (1) | £15,000 | £17,251 | £18,000 | |
Vice-Chairman of Council (1) | £5,000 | £7,669 | £8,000 | |
Officers of Political Groups | £170 per Member | No Change | £5,000 | |