Councillors' Pay Frozen By Scottish Government

30th December 2011

Local Government Minister Derek Mackay has decided not to implement recommendations of the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee (SLARC) 2010 review which suggested a range of changes to the salaries of councillors.

Instead, Ministers will consider the recommendations next year ahead of 2013-14.

Mr Mackay said:"The Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee undertook the first fundamental review of Councillor's remuneration since 2006 and I have considered their findings carefully.

"Against a background of unprecedented cuts to Scotland's budget by the UK Government and the need for continuing pay restraint across the public sector, I have decided not to implement any further recommendations of the 2010 Review report at this time.

"We have always sought to ensure that pay policy is fair and affordable across the areas of the public sector that we have responsibility for, which includes councillors' pay. Any increase in pay would put additional pressure on local authority budgets and I have decided that councillor's pay will remain frozen in 2012-13.

"I will look again at the SLARC recommendations next year, ahead of 2013-14, to see what is affordable, sustainable and appropriate at that time."