Isle of Wight councillors are not likely to award themselves a pay rise this year, but the total bill for allowances is expected to be in excess of £500,000.
When councillors last discussed pay, in January 2022, they agreed on an allowance of £8,232 per annum — with extra for cabinet members, leaders and those with additional responsibilities. On top of that basic allowance, a nationally-agreed cost-of-living award is added on — which was £600 in 2022/23.
It means, in 2023/24, Isle of Wight councillors will be taking home a basic allowance of at least £8,832. We do not yet know how much the cost of living award will be for 2023/4.
Extra reimbursement is also paid for travel incurred on council business. It is available in 2 ways: for off-Island travel; and via a lump-sum, determined by the distance between County Hall and the councillor’s home, as well as what position they hold at the local authority.
Leader, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox, will have received nearly £26,500, between 1st April 2022, and 31st March 2023.
It may be decided that the allowances should go up, but the indication is that when councillors meet on 15th March they won’t vote for an increase.
Whatever is decided, the bill for councillors is going up — paid for by public funds. The total budget for members’ allowances, including on-Island travel, is £504,924 for 2023/24 — before a cost of living rise, which must also be funded locally.
In 2022/3, the allowance budget went £23,000 over what had been planned for.
Councillors can choose whether or not to accept their allowances in the first place.
Councillor’s Can choose if they receive their allowances in the first place. Do you think they will say ” YES PLEASE ” Answers on a postcard.
A postcard would be too big, a very small postage stamp would be more appropriate.
I’m sure they have handed the money around from the floating bridge refund the amount that the public haven’t been told about.
Every single penny must be scrutinised.
Right to to the penny. Astonishing just how much they give themselves in the first place..tapping their pens while daydreaming!!
Totally ridiculous, ..
That’s more than my wage !!!!!!
Haven’t they heard vectis are offering £2 bus fares !!!!
And I am sure some lot’s of them must have a bus pass !!!
See how many pass up on their perks ??? Out of our Money !!!!!
Begins with N ends with E …..
Highway robbery, waste of space…
Cost of living allowance, demanded by those on over inflated wages, from those that are on their knees trying to survive day to day. Gone are the days people joined local or national authorities to make a difference in their communities, now its all about spouting what people want to hear then do nothing but appologise for it not happening, and, of course take take take the free hand outs in the guise of allowances.
it is beyond disgusting that these useless egotistical parasites get a cost of living award when the taxpayers are struggling to cope with the cost of living.
If we had zero councillors would we actually notice any real changes?
Nope. Well yes as the island would run a lot smoother
They won’t accept, they know the island is flat broke.. why would they want to add to that burden !! These a professional’s don’t you know …. As if
professional leeches, a very nice little earner when someone is utterly incompetent and useless to do a proper job.
No surprises there, taking care of themselves first as usual. The whole country is struggling financially, they should be thankful they don’t have to do a daily train journey to attend Council Meetings. Love to know how they incurred a 23K overspend last year and what on? If they can claim for “entertainment” costs then these need to be scrapped completely, you do not need a drink or food to discuss issues.
Worth every penny if you ask me! I think those hard working councillors deserve a pay rise.
The only thing these money grabbing useless lumps deserve is a boot out of the door !!!!
I suppose that a certain person needs more stables????
Let’s hope she applies for planning permission 1st !?!?…
It’s no wonder all the pictures of them are smirking from ear 2 ear !
laughing @us poor cash cow’s subsidising their affluent lifestyle…
Claire mosdell? She’s got enough and more that she did before planning and she got away with the extras. All i can say is Spead a little wider
Apart from destroying the Island economy, wasting public money on hair brain ideas and blocking /granting planning permission depending on who offers biggest brown envelopes, just get rid on the Island and across country,all total waste.
We have far too many money grabbing totally useless councillors, let’s get rid of at least half of them, we would no miss them and the remainder should have there allowances cut. Why are we wasting so much money on these incompetent people?