Camden Town Hall

CAMDEN’s councillors will enjoy a 3.4 per cent pay rise from the start of April, writes Richard Osley.

Members voted in favour of the rise – above the rate of UK inflation, which is currently at 3 per cent – at the cross-party audit committee last month and then again at Monday’s full council meeting.

In previous years some Tories and Liberal Democrats have objected to councillors getting more at a time when services are being cut back and residents are suffering with the cost-of-living as working wages have stagnated.

But this year’s boost in allowances – the official name for what is effectively a councillor’s salary – was passed in seconds with no debate and little comment from anyone.

Camden will spend an extra £49,000 a year on paying its councillors.

All will receive a basic £16,551.27, but 30 of them get extra payments for various roles – such as group whips or chairing committees.

Nearly all members also have work from their private careers.

The leader of the council will be paid another £45,000 on top of the basic, according to the pay chart.

Camden says its figures are low when compared to other similar local authorities, and allowances need to be set to make sure everybody can afford to stand for the council.