Council leader takes pay cut

Powys County Councils new leaders have agreed to take a pay cut just a week after taking up office.

County council leader, Cllr David Jones from Guilsfield in Montgomeryshire, will take £34,500 a year instead of £47,500 as suggested by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales for all councils in Wales. Cabinet members are given special responsibiity allowances for their work.

The new cabinet, made up of seven independent councillors and three unaligned members from throughout the county, have agreed to also take a pay cut based on the special allowances they could have had. They will take £24,500 instead of the recommended £28,780.

Cllr David Jones said: “I am pleased that the cabinet have decided individually to take a far lower senior salary than the IRPW have instructed all councils across Wales to pay. As leader rather than taking £47,500 specified by IRPW I will take the lower figure of £34,500. The cabinet and I are determined to show that we are going to lead by example. I know for well those cabinet members are making real sacrifices to serve in the cabinet this time.

The council will save £56,200 through the cuts.