Walsall Council pay rise approved despite protest
An increase in allowances for senior councillors in Walsall has been approved despite a protest by up to 50 pensioners.
Allowances paid to the leader of Walsall Council, deputy leader and eight other cabinet members will all increase from April.
The move to boost total allowances by almost £55,000 was voted through by the Conservatives while the Labour group did not vote at a meeting last night.
Members of Walsall Pensioners Convention protested outside.
Council leader Mike Bird said: "I want to make it clear this isn't a rise for Mike Bird or Adrian Andrew and cabinet members. This is for the position that will be in place for whoever it is for the next financial year."
Recommendations to increase allowances to senior councillors had been put forward by an independent panel.
Professor Steve Leach, of De Montfort University, was invited to attend last night's full council meeting to explain the findings.
He said there were major discrepancies in allowances paid to Walsall's senior councillors when compared with colleagues in the West Midlands.
"We feel you shouldn't undervalue yourselves," he said.
Sean Coughlan, deputy leader of the Walsall Labour group, said the group had taken a principled stance not to support the move.
