Bridgend 2022: Did you get value from your councillor?

Councillor pay and expenses entitlements are set by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.

The figures come from the council’s published remuneration reports and schedules from 2017-18 to 2021-22. It includes some hangover from the previous term, while the 2021-22 report didn’t list certain details like reimbursements or expenses, only what members were entitled to claim. 

I haven’t counted the annual councillor basic salary as listed in the reports for councillors who didn’t hold a senior role – which during the term has ranged between £12,000 and £15,000 – as all councillors receive it and the information wasn’t always provided for senior councillors, just a senior or civil salary figure and expenses.

The numbers in the tables below are also likely to be an over-estimate, because it’s unclear from the information as published by BCBC whether the reduced basic salary paid to councillors who receive a senior or civic salary is included in their senior or civil salary figure. So it’s not 100% accurate, more an upper limit of what they could have received. All income is taxed as well.

Update: BCBC have contacted me to confirm that the basic salary IS included in the senior salary figures – which wasn’t clear in some of their own renumeration reports (which you can see for yourselves in the link above). “Top-up” should be interpreted as meaning the higher salary a councillor receives for holding a senior role, which is often a basic salary combined with additional money (which you could call a “top-up”) depending on the role. It makes no difference to the numbers as they are – which are accurate – but should clear up any confusion about what senior councillors are entitled to. They weren’t paid the money listed in the tables on top of anything else.

I’ve included:

• Senior salaries – The higher rate of salary for Cabinet members, committee chairs and opposition group leaders (with the basic salary discounted where figures are given).
• Civic salaries – The higher rate of salary for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of BCBC (with the basic salary discounted where figures are given).
• Expenses – This includes expenses councillors are entitled to claim for transport/mileage, care costs and subsistence (i.e. meals). All of the expenses listed relate to transport/mileage, there were no other claims.
• Opted to forgo – Councillors voluntarily repaying/declining expenses or additional rates of pay they’re otherwise entitled to, though figures weren’t provided for 2017-18 or 2021-22. I assume most of you will consider this to be a good thing.

Firstly, a look at the Cabinet.

As mentioned, being a member of the Cabinet is a full-time role and comes with a full-time salary, so the high figures here aren’t out of the ordinary.

Stuart Baldwin served as Deputy Mayor and Mayor during the last term and that’s reflected in the civic salary figures.

Jane Gebbie was only appointed to the Cabinet within the last few months so figures for her salary and expenses are largely based on her time as a backbencher – hence why it’s lower or why there’s nothing listed.

Now the backbenchers and opposition councillors.

Top of the list are two long-serving Labour councillors – John Spanswick (who’s been a committee chair, Deputy Mayor and Mayor during the last term) and Gary Thomas (who’s been chair of the Planning Committee).

The rest of the councillors featuring towards the top include other committee chairs and opposition leaders.

The only other things to note are reimbursements (“opted to forgo”). Two senior Conservative councillors – Lyn Walters and Matthew Voisey – did this, which is worth noting.

Five councillors stand out by costing less than expected, presumably because they turned down salary increases or expenses.