Birmingham city councillors set for pay rise with chief whips to get an allowance too

Birmingham councillors are due to receive a pay rise of £195 for this year, and the leader of the council will get the same amount as last year. It has also been recommended that chief whips receive an allowance for the first time.

Basic allowances (BA) for councillors are recommended by an independent remuneration panel. The panel also recommends the amount received by councillors with additional duties, known as the special responsibility allowance (SRA).

Since 2019, the panel has used the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) to guide how much councillors are paid in allowances. The ASHE provides detailed information about pay for UK employees in all industries and occupations.

The panel has recommended council leader Ian Ward’s SRA remain at £56,579. This is despite a decrease in the ASHE rate which indicates it should be lowered to £55,877.

The ASHE rate used to determine councillors’ basic allowances has also decreased. However, previous allowances paid to councillors had fallen behind the ASHE rate, and therefore the increase from £18,681 to £18,876 will bring their allowances into line with it.

For the first time, party chief whips will receive an SRA of £2,829. The main role of the chief whip is to ensure councillors vote in line with the party. However, the panel has noted the role of chief whip has evolved over the past four years and is due to expand further.

In its report, the panel said: “The panel believes this is a fair and equitable approach to setting the BA and SRAs in 2022 which incorporates the City Council’s commitment to the catchup element, whilst acknowledging the unprecedented economic and social circumstances faced by residents, communities and the City Council.”

The Council Business Management Committee will make the final decision on allowances on May 31 at 12pm.

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