By David Scott
4 February 2010
Scotland’s councillors have agreed to a pay freeze for the next year.
The decision was taken by council leaders after they considered a recommendation by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee, which said councillors’ pay should be frozen at April 2009 levels for the next two years.
However, the leaders rejected a two-year pay freeze. The agreed freeze will apply only for the financial year 2010/11.
A spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said: ‘In sharp contrast to some other parts of the public sector, in particular the quango state, Scotland’s council leaders have agreed to a pay freeze over the next year to be reviewed on a continuous basis.’
The pay freeze for councillors comes as MSPs are considering freezing their own salaries, which are currently £56,671 a year.
The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, which is responsible for the parliament’s management, is considering a proposal for a zero per cent increase when salaries are reviewed in March.
Scottish National Party ministers have already agreed to freeze their own pay.
Finance Secretary John Swinney recently announced a freeze to the pay of senior civil servants in the Scottish Government.
He has also written to quango chiefs urging them to relieve the burden on public spending by waiving their bonuses.
4 February 2010
Scotland’s councillors have agreed to a pay freeze for the next year.
The decision was taken by council leaders after they considered a recommendation by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee, which said councillors’ pay should be frozen at April 2009 levels for the next two years.
However, the leaders rejected a two-year pay freeze. The agreed freeze will apply only for the financial year 2010/11.
A spokesman for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said: ‘In sharp contrast to some other parts of the public sector, in particular the quango state, Scotland’s council leaders have agreed to a pay freeze over the next year to be reviewed on a continuous basis.’
The pay freeze for councillors comes as MSPs are considering freezing their own salaries, which are currently £56,671 a year.
The Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, which is responsible for the parliament’s management, is considering a proposal for a zero per cent increase when salaries are reviewed in March.
Scottish National Party ministers have already agreed to freeze their own pay.
Finance Secretary John Swinney recently announced a freeze to the pay of senior civil servants in the Scottish Government.
He has also written to quango chiefs urging them to relieve the burden on public spending by waiving their bonuses.
