Councillor's allowances going up by £200

Powys county councillors are expected to be told they MUST take a salary increase of £200 this year, taking their basic salary to £13,600 a year.

A full county council meeting taking place on Thursday will discuss the rise which follows a £100 uplift last year.

It comes after the council tax jumped again in April by five per cent.

The decision to uplift salaries was taken by the Remuneration Panel Wales, an independent panel that considers the salaries of councillors and others in public service.

While all councillors must take their salary and the uplift, they can still forego it by writing to the finance officer.

A report to the meeting states: "The panel have determined that the basic salary level for Members of principal local authorities will be uplifted by £200 per annum to £13,600 per annum, effective from the Council AGM on 17th May 2018.

"The annual Basic Salary of £13,600 MUST be paid to all Councillors. However, as with all three types of salaries (basic, senior and civic) a Member may elect to forego the whole or part of the Basic Salary.

"This is a decision for the individual Member and is not a matter for Council. To forego a salary a Member or Co-Opted Member must notify the Chief Finance Officer in writing."

A salary of £48,300 can be paid to the council leader, according to the report.

A further 18 senior councillors can receive higher salaries. The deputy leader can receive £33,800. Cabinet members can receive £29,300, along with chairs of certain committees.

The leader of the largest opposition group can also receive a salary of £22,300.

In addition, the remuneration panel has said council chairs can receive £21,800 and £16,300 for the deputy chair.

All these salaries include the basic councillor salary of £13,600.