A look at Wirral councillor pay, allowances & expenses faced with budget cuts. How does it compare to other areas?
Wirral Council faces major budget cuts. They requested up to £40m from the government. Libraries might close and jobs are at risk. Some people think councillors earn too much.
MPs’ salaries differ greatly from councillors’. MPs earn £91,346 annually. They also get expenses for office costs. This helps with housing and staff too.
Wirral has 66 councillors. They receive a basic £10,059 allowance. Senior roles get extra pay. The council leader could get £25,938 more.
Jean Robinson, deputy leader, could get £12,969 extra. Jeff Green, opposition leader, could get £15,563. Green co-leaders could each get £7,781.
Phil Gilchrist, Liberal leader, could get £5,187. Angela Davies, Labour deputy, could get £12,969. Lesley Rennie, Tory deputy, could get £7,781.
Green and Lib Dem deputies get less. They could claim £3,890 and £2,593. Mayor Cherry Povall could get £12,969. Deputy Mayor Brian Kenny could get £2,593.
Several councillors could claim an extra £10,375. Other committee chairs get between £3,890 and £5,187.
Councillors were paid £840,870 in one year. Each got at least £9,223. One councillor claimed only £5 in expenses.
Car mileage claims totaled £1,137. Individual claims ranged from £68 to £426. Expenses totaled just under £30. Four councillors filed them.
Wirral Council officers often earn more than councillors. Chief Executive Paul Satoor received £218,438 overall. This includes salary, travel, and pension.
Director pay ranges widely, up to £132,564. Some assistant directors earn almost £101,880. One ex-director got £69,406 after leaving.
Sefton councillors’ basic allowance was over £11,000. Their leader got an extra £27,206. Halton councillors’ basic pay was £10,224. The leader received an extra £26,363.
Knowsley councillors got over £10,500. The leader got an extra £32,639. St Helens councillors get a £9,108 allowance.
Liverpool councillors get £10,590 as basic pay. Their leader gets plus £38,136. Liverpool councillor allowances will rise. They voted for a 27% increase soon.