Councillors in North Wales county set for another pay increase next year
Conwy Council's democratic services committee met today (Friday) to consider the latest determinations from the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW), the body that sets councillor pay. The IRPW's 2025/26 report recommends salary increases for elected members, including rises for the leader, deputy leader, executive members (cabinet), committee chairs, and the civic head.
The pay is as follows:
Basic Salary (payable to all elected members) – increase from £18,666 to £19,771
Leader – increase from £62,998 to £66,727
Deputy Leader – increase from £44,099 to £46,709
Executive (Cabinet) Members – increase from £37,799 to £40,036
Committee Chairs (including the leader of the largest opposition group) – increase from £27,999 to £29,657
Civic Head – increase from £27,999 to £29,657
Deputy Civic Head – increase from £22,406 to £23,726
The committee voted in favour of noting 'the final determinations within the IRPW Annual Report 2025/26 and recommends to council that the status quo remains regarding the payment of senior and civic salaries'. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox.
The council can also decide which chairs of committees are remunerated. Currently senior salaries are paid to the chairs of the four overview and scrutiny committees, the chairs of the planning, licensing, and democratic services committees, and the vote means the status quo will remain.
Before the committee voted in favour of backing the report, Abergele councillor Paul Luckock said: 'I propose we maintain the status-quo remains on those senior salaries.
'Again, I know I'm different to many councillors. I'm not sheepish about the salary increase. I welcome them. I think it goes through an independent process, and I think I work very hard on behalf of my constituents, and that those salary increases are appropriate, and as a trade unionist, I would always say that all workers have the right to get additional benefits to meet and acknowledge the work that they do.'
Cllr Liz Roberts added: 'Over the years, I've carried out many of these roles, and I know what hard work it was doing them as well, and so I would fully support what Cllr Paul (Luckock) has proposed.'
The final decision will now be made by the council on 22 May. The meeting was scheduled to take place as a hybrid meeting at 10am but was delayed by hours for those wanting to watch the vote live online, due to Conwy experiencing technical difficulties.
The meeting was the last to take place at Bodlondeb before council meetings move next week to the new chamber at Conwy's flagship Coed Pella HQ.
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