07-03-2025
The tourist hotspot where councillor pay rises outstrip soaring council tax bills
Councillors in Scotland have sparked a backlash for accepting bumper pay rises while imposing council tax increases of up to 15pc for residents.
Holyrood approved pay rises of up to 22pc for officials at the end of last year – although in some areas those pay increases were as generous as 56pc.
At the same time, residents face inflation-busting rises to their council tax.
In the Orkney Islands, households have been told their bills are going up by 15pc – costing those with a Band D property an extra £154 a year. But, the local authority has decided to implement the full 22pc pay increase for its staff, taking a basic salary for its councillors from £21,345 to £25,982.
It means that Heather Woodbridge, the independent leader of the council, could see her pay jump from £35,523 to £47,363.
It is not known whether Ms Woodbridge's salary will rise as a result of the change, as pay increases are made on a discretionary basis.
Meanwhile, fees for other services in the local authority will increase, with the cost of burials in council graveyards, bin collections and swimming lessons rising by 10pc in price in some cases.
Linda Ratter, an Orkney Islands resident, has led a petition online against the 15pc council tax rise that has gathered more than 1,000 signatures.
She told the BBC: 'There are lots of people, lots of families, and a lot of older people who are really struggling.'
'Rents are going up, food costs are going up, everything is going up. Things can't keep going on like this, people are really suffering.'
It comes as pay rises for staff at other Scottish councils have been approved by Holyrood just as residents are facing higher tax bills. Midlothian council approved a 10pc council tax rise while cutting services last month. It also approved a raft of pay increases for staff.
Local website, Midlothian View, reported that councillors approved a 56pc pay rise for its senior staff in a meeting lasting just 45 seconds.
Ms Woodbridge said: 'Orkney Islands Council will be increasing its council tax to bring it in line with the average council tax in Scotland. Our council tax has been historically lower than the average level for many years.
'It costs significantly more to deliver services in an island archipelago than in mainland Scotland. By achieving the average level in Scotland, we are not passing on that additional cost to islanders and continue to work constructively with the Scottish government to find solutions to our funding gap.
'There is no local decision to increase councillor pay as this is set nationally. However, paying a fair wage for the hours done by island and rural community representatives is a critical part of democracy. The implementation of the recommendations of the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee review will remove barriers to elected office.'
A Midlothian council spokesman said its councillors were among the lowest paid in Scotland and the rise was intended to bring it 'in line with other neighbouring councils'.
He added: 'This was fully funded, and legislated for, by the Scottish government's budget and not funded by council tax.
'As an employer, we are footing the bill for higher contributions to National Insurance and the higher rate council tax is partly a reflection of this extra financial burden.'
