THE leader of the opposition on Caerphilly council has taken a cut in his salary as a response to the council’s “difficult” financial situation.

Plaid Cymru group leader, Cllr Colin Mann, has announced he will take a five per cent cut in his senior allowance, and has also called on all members on senior salaries, principally committee chairs, to follow suit.

In the last financial year, Cllr Mann received £21,909, including £13,175 basic allowance, for his role as leader of the opposition. Payments are similar in this financial year.

It comes after cabinet members at Labour-led Caerphilly council unanimously agreed to slash their individual annual allowance with immediate effect earlier this month amid growing concerns of forthcoming budget cuts.

On Wednesday, the authority’s cabinet approved proposals to increase the council tax by 3.9 per cent for 2015/16. It has to make savings of £12.8 million in that financial year, with a cumulative savings target of £39 million by 2018, as a result of cuts in its financial settlement by the Welsh Government.

Cllr Mann said: "The authority faces a very difficult financial situation over the next few years and frontline services to the public are facing the axe.

"While a five per cent cut in allowances won’t go anyway to solving the authority’s budget problems, I feel it is important that councillors are prepared to show to the public that we will also take some pain.

"It would be wrong to continue to take the full senior allowance at a time of severe austerity. As councillors we have to live in the real world.

"I am still getting feedback that there is resentment among rank and file council staff concerning the huge pay rises previously given to 21 senior officers. I would suggest that a gesture from these staff would not only help the budget but also boost morale.

"I would invite all those on senior salaries, to voluntarily give up some of their allowances."

In response, the Caerphilly Labour group of councillors welcomed Cllr Mann's “belated decision”, adding: "Better late than never.”