Liverpool councilors’ pay will remain frozen for another year

Pay for Liverpool city councilors will remain frozen for the third year in a row.

From 2022, recommendations have been made to local authorities to increase salaries for elected members. An independent panel last year encouraged the 85 councilors to receive a 5% annual salary increase.

After being turned down, members are expected to approve a plan next week to keep their allowances at their current rate for a third straight year.

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An independent local authority panel recommended last year that Liverpool Council members should be given an increase in allowances, from £10,590 to £11,119. This was suggested in line with a pay rise for local authority officials.

As in 2022, when councilors rejected a 1.75% rise, the proposed pay rise was later rejected, with representatives requesting further information on the future of parking permits and whether they should be included in members’ allowances. It is not known if a decision has been made given the retirement of the independent committee chair and staff turnover.

Documents made available ahead of next week’s full council meeting confirmed there are no plans to make changes to the payment for the next council year.

As a result, the base rate will remain at £10,590 for all members. As council leader, Cllr Liam Robinson is proposed to continue receiving an additional special responsibility allowance (SRA) of £42,100.

His statutory deputy, Cllr Ruth Bennett, is paid an extra £16,014 for her role. Cllr Carl Cashman, as leader of the largest opposition group, receives a further £11,341 SRA.

Cabinet members earn £13,269 on top of their existing allowance for carrying out their duties.

Pay rates for leading members were changed following the abandonment of the Mayor’s model last May. The previous incumbent, Joanne Anderson, received a salary of £83,539.

A new report with a revised allowance scheme for members is expected to be presented at the council’s annual meeting in May next year. The allowances are expected to be approved when the authority meets at Liverpool City Hall next Wednesday.

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