Councillors' pay rise could be scrapped due to hard times in Milton Keynes

The rise was proposed long before the pandemic struck, but last week it was proposed that it should be frozen.

A report stated there were "exceptional current external circumstances" with inflation is 0.3 per cent, a public sector pay freeze and the impact of the on-going Covid crisis.

All 57 MK councillors are paid a basic allowance of £10,924 per year but those with extra responsibilities receive more.

These include the leader of the council, who is paid £31,836, the deputy leader (£15,918) and leaders of the Opposition Groups (£658). Cabinet members receive an extra £9,809 while committee chairs get between £3,183 and £8,489.

Council leader Pete Marland said: “Freezing councillors allowances at this time is the right thing to propose. I don’t usually believe in amending the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel or virtual signalling over councillors allowances because it’s my view if we want to encourage able, strong and diverse community leaders onto the council we should look to a professional approach.

"However, we are in exceptional times. Inflation is almost zero. Public sector pay has been frozen and the Covid-19 pandemic is hitting everyone hard. In these exceptional and one off circumstances it’s right we consider not increasing allowances by 2 per cent from April as the recommendation from four years ago could not have foreseen these events.”

The proposal will be put to the vote at a meeting of the full council next week.