‘UNDERVALUED’ councillors across Gwent are in line for a pay rise worth nearly two percent from next year.

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales has suggested that the basic annual salary for councillors in Wales should go up to £13,868 from £13,600 – an increase of 1.97 per cent.

Senior councillors – including leaders, deputies and cabinet members – have not had their salaries increased for six years but will still get a raise of £800 inclusive of the basic salary increase.

For the first time, town and community councils will also be expected to pay their members £150 a year to go towards costs and expenses.

The IRPW’s ‘modest’ suggestions from their draft annual report could be brought into effect from April 2019.

“The financial constraints on the public sector and particularly local authorities has meant that the link with average Welsh earnings has not been maintained,” the report says.

“The Panel considers that this has undervalued the worth of elected members. To avoid further erosion in relation to average earnings the Panel has decided to increase the basic annual salary to £13,868.”

The basic allowance is remuneration for the ‘community representation and related scrutiny functions’ undertaken by elected members, which the IPRW say is the equivalent of three days a week.

Under the proposals Newport council leader Debbie Wilcox and Caerphilly council leader Dave Poole will see their senior salaries increase to £49,100 while their deputies will receive £34,600.

Members of their respective cabinet will also see their salaries rise to £30,100.

Elsewhere in the region, the leaders of Torfaen, Monmouthshire, and Blaenau Gwent – Anthony Hunt, Peter Fox, and Nigel Daniels – will see their salaries rise to £44,100.

Salaries for deputy leaders and cabinet members in those councils will go up to £31,100 and £27,100 respectively.

Across all five councils, the leaders of the largest opposition group will receive £22,568 with other political group leaders receiving £17,568.

Pay for committee chairs will also increase to £22,568 but only if their respective council has decided to remunerate them.

According to the IRPW, ‘very few’ councillors are choosing to reimburse the costs of care for fear of reprisal from the public.

The report continues: “It appears that some members are still reluctant to claim all that they are entitled to support them in their role, because of concerns about the adverse publicity this can attract.

“We urge democratic services committees to take steps to encourage and facilitate greater use of this element of our Framework so that members concerned are not financially disadvantaged.”

The report will be discussed by Blaenau Gwent council’s democratic services committee on Tuesday October 23.