Stoke-on-Trent councillors defend pay rise plans
THE CHAIRMAN of an independent panel which told councillors they can take a pay rise has defended the group's decision.
The Sentinel revealed last week how all 44 city councillors have been given the green light to take an increase in their allowances from May, despite a continued pay freeze for staff and £24 million budget cuts hitting frontline services.
Members have immediately come under pressure from residents' groups to turn down the pay offer at tonight's full council meeting.
Ken Sproston, of Stafford, who is chairman of the three-man remuneration panel, insisted it is not the panel's job to consider the public's perception.
The 62-year-old said: "It's not up to us to take that into account. That's a matter for the council.
"All we are doing is making recommendations, that's our job.
"Allowances are paid using taxpayers' money and the final decision rests with those who are elected.
"We make recommendations, and we do that thoroughly and systematically."
Mr Sproston, university secretary at Staffordshire University, said the panel's main concerns were ensuring members' allowances are fair and reflect the amount of time spent on council work.
The panel received questionnaires from 60 per cent of councillors and about 12 responded to requests to attend in person to discuss the allowances scheme.
Mr Sproston added: "We have a number of principles established which we try to work within, such as fair structures reflecting the amount of time being put in and nobody having more than one special responsibility allowance.
"We asked councillors for their views on things like time spent on the role, which obviously varies considerably.
"And we asked for feedback on the specifics of the system and anything they wanted to tell us."
Fellow panel members Bill Buckley and George Slater are both city residents.
If the increases go ahead, council leader Mohammed Pervez's role will receive an allowance of £48,000 – up £4,000.
Deputy leader Paul Shotton's role climb from £27,500 to £30,000, while all eight cabinet members receive £24,000, an extra £2,000.
Ward councillors with no special responsibility will receive £12,000, up from £11,000, and committee chairman will get £21,000, up from £19,250.
Councillor Paul Breeze, who represents Birches Head and Central Forest Park, is voting in favour of the increase.
The non-aligned councillor receives the basic £11,000 allowance.
He said: "My honest case is that I work seven days a week, well in excess of 50 hours, and when you look at it that way it is far below minimum wage.
"When I was a councillor in virtually the same area between 2003 and 2007 there were three members, now there are only two of us here and most of the ward issues come to me because Mark Meredith is understandably busy with his cabinet work.
"I don't think councillors should vote on it. The panel should just set the allowances.
"It is never going to be popular, regardless of the economic climate."
