THE second-worst paid district councillors in Devon have given themselves a six per cent rise.

West Devon Borough Councillors were lagging near the bottom of the table with their basic allowance of £4,893, just above East Devon.

A report to full council in December said that the authority had effectively penalised itself by historically not always accepting recommended increases by the  Independent Renumeration Panel.

Members rejected a 15.5 per cent increase bringing them in line with the Devon district average as “excessive,” but they do want to catch up.

They agreed to raising the basic allowance by six per cent to £5,187 in 2023/24 and again in 2024/25 to £5,498 with a review late in 2024. The cost to the council from the pay rise will be £14,844.

Civic allowances for the mayor and deputy mayor will stay at £3,000 and £825 respectively.

Cllr Neil Jory (Con, Milton Ford) said the allowance rise was “reasonable and fair” and he supported moving towards the average for Devon.

“In financial terms we are small, in geographical terms we are a big council and all of our members do as much work as members from other councils. It is only fair that that should be recognised.”

He said the council should be looking to encourage younger, working people with families and different areas of expertise and the pay should recognise the costs and time involved in undertaking this “very important responsibility”.

Cllr Robert Oxborough (Ind, Mary Tavy) asked that members of the development management and licensing committee be given a special responsibility allowance as they put in many extra hours on planning issues and their decisions carried risks for example subsequent planning appeals which could cost the council money.  This will be considered in the future.

Alison Stephenson

LDRS