Councillors who complained about salary increases awarded by an independent body were branded “elitist” at a meeting.

At the annual meeting of Powys County Council on Thursday, 16 May, councillors discussed the recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales on councillors’ salaries.

The IRPW says that councillors throughout Wales must receive an increase in the basic salary by just under two per cent, which is £268, to £13,868.

Cllr Amanda Jenner said: “I feel very uncomfortable given the current climate and rising council tax, that we’re voting for a pay rise for the third year in a row. It feels inappropriate and out of touch.

“I would like us as councillors to lobby for reform or at least have some input.”

Following her comments, monitoring officer Clive Pinney stressed: “You are not voting to give yourself a pay rise. All you are doing is noting a pay rise awarded to you and members across the whole of Wales by an independent body. It’s for individual members to accept the pay rise.”

Cllr Kath Robert-Jones said: “I find this discussion extremely difficult.

“We’ve heard this is not our decision and we can take it or leave it.

“If we don’t allow people to have some sort of allowances you are in danger of only getting the elite around the table and they will only be the wealthy. We don’t want to go there again.

“I am happy to say that I’m part of the pension scheme, but I do not have any independent finance at all, if I didn’t get paid for what I do. I work really hard, just as most councillors do, as I really care about our public.”

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