North Tyneside councillors are set for another pay boost, with a new round of allowance increases recommended for approval at next week’s full council meeting.
The proposed hikes form part of the annual independent remuneration report, which will be put to a vote on Thursday, September 24, at the local authority’s Cobalt Business Park headquarters. If passed, the changes will see salary adjustments across a range of roles, including the Elected Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, and various committee chairs.
Councillors receive these allowances not as a traditional wage, but as reimbursement for their time and the duties performed in their public service roles. Under the new recommendations, the basic allowance for all councillors is slated to rise from £11,176 to £11,545.
The proposed increases extend to senior leadership positions as well. The Elected Mayor’s allowance is set to climb from £70,691 to £73,024, while the Deputy Mayor’s allowance would rise from £13,907 to £14,431. Additionally, the Chair of the Council is in line for an increase from £12,604 to £13,020.
The move is likely to face intense scrutiny, following last year’s highly controversial increases. During that cycle, cabinet members saw their special responsibility rates jump by more than £8,000, while the Deputy Mayor’s allowance surged by over 85%. At the time, supporters of the independent remuneration panel argued that allowances had been effectively frozen since 2022 and that failing to adjust them for inflation could discourage qualified candidates from seeking public office.
However, the prospect of further increases has already drawn criticism. When similar concerns were raised last September, Conservative councillor David Lilly was scathing in his opposition. “Residents will just see politicians with their noses further in the trough,” he remarked. “At a time when everyone is having to tighten their belts, these increases are obscene and an affront to the residents of North Tyneside.”
As the council prepares for the vote, the spotlight remains firmly on whether members will adopt the panel’s recommendations or choose to freeze pay amidst the ongoing cost-of-living pressures facing their constituents.
The full list of proposed annual adjustments is as follows:
- Basic Allowance: £11,176 to £11,545
- Elected Mayor: £70,691 to £73,024
- Deputy Mayor: £13,907 to £14,431
- Cabinet Members: £11,176 to £11,545
- Committee Chairs (Licensing, scrutiny, planning, regulation, standards): £5,558 to £5,741
- Deputy Committee Chairs (Licensing, scrutiny, planning, regulation, standards): £2,794 to £2,886
- Other Committee Chairs: £2,235 to £2,309
- Other Deputy Committee Chairs: £559 to £577
- Opposition Group Leader: £11,176 to £11,545
- Deputy Opposition Group Leader: £1,117 to £1,154
- Chair of Council: £12,604 to £13,020
- Deputy Chair of Council: £4,576 to £4,727
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