ONLY FAIR… Robert Irvine
COUNCILLORS who are elected in May and who will sit on the new Fermanagh-Omagh ‘super council when will be getting a whopping 44 per cent pay rise.
Environment Minster Mark H Durkan confirmed last week that a new basic allowance for councillors has been set at £14,200 – a substantial increase from the rate of approximately £9800 which current councillors get.
While some current councillors have reacted positively to the new rates one local politician has branded the new rate as ‘grossly excessive’.
Alex Elliott, Fermanagh leader of the TUV (Traditional Unionist Voice), said the new rate was a ‘massive increase’ on the existing rate and said it was ‘unjustified’.
“Look at the amount of work that is expected to be done by any councillor – an average of about 10 hours per week. Then look at the wages of the average council worker.
“To be taking home £1100 – £1200 per month is absolutely scandalous.”
Mr Elliott, who is not a current councillor, said this rate was based on a model over in England, where councillors have much more responsibility.
“I think they should be paid on the work they do – attending a meeting for instance. Some councillors sail through and we never hear from them except at election time,” he said.
Before a decision was taken on councillors’ pay, the DOE set up a working group to look at pay and conditions of councillors as part of the Reform of Local Government.
Councillors work and pay in England Scotland and Wales was examined.
“The emerging view was that the Scottish model had similarities to the council model here and that terms and conditions would be benchmarked against it,” said SDLP councillor Frank Britton who has already announced he doesn’t intend to stand in the forthcoming elections in May.
Mr Britton said the DOE isn’t always cash generous and said he believes the issue of councillors pay has been looked at carefully.
“If that’s the level the pay is being set at there is nothing we can do about it,” continued Mr Britton who said he believed his fellow councillors who are elected to the new ‘super’ council would accept these rates.
But he also said the rate paying public should be able to expect a good level of service from their new councillors.
Ulster Unionist councillor Robert Irvine, who is intending to stand again for election this May, said the increased powers will mean all councillors will face an additional workload, saying councillors will have to change the way they operate to handle these additional powers including planning and local governance. Mr Irvine said their roles will become more onerous, and their work outside the chamber will also change.
Robert Irvine said it’s not just about sitting on the council – most councillors sit on a number of other bodies, such as WELB or various boards of other organisations.
“Councillors have to bring a level of professionalism to these bodies.
“With the increase in powers and duties is just about adequately funded by this allowance,” said Mr Irvine adding if anyone feels this is excessive they should come and do their job for six months.
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