Riddle Me This, Twitter?
How can a pay review be properly 'independent' if Ministers have already announced the outcome they desire, i.e. a big increase in councillors' pay?
SNP ministers and COSLA couldn't have picked a worse time for this review with much lower paid council workers being told to 'tighten their belts'.
But how else do you read the following extract from a joint ScotGov/COSLA statement:
"We have therefore jointly committed to undertaking an independent review of Councillor remuneration. This review will be undertaken at pace to examine the terms and conditions of the Councillor role, in particular the current rate of pay. The review will commence as soon as possible after the forthcoming Local Government elections to ensure that terms and conditions truly reflect the responsibilities of the 21st century Councillor."Statement from the Scottish Government and COSLA: increasing the diversity of local councillors
Announcement of a joint independent review of councillor's pay to help support increasing the diversity on Scotland’s councils.
Increasing the diversity of Councillors is a priority shared by COSLA and the Scottish Government.
Councillors are a key part of Scotland’s democratic governance. Therefore, ensuring that varied lived experience from across our communities is represented among Councillors is essential.
In recognition of this, the Scottish Government introduced a new mechanism in 2017 to ensure Councillors' pay is increased annually in line with the percentage increase in the median annual earnings of public sector workers in Scotland. This will ensure that Councillors will receive a pay increase of 5.2% from 1 April 2022, taking the salary of an ordinary Councillor up to £19,571.
However, the current level of remuneration is still one of the major concerns regularly raised as a barrier to recruiting and retaining Councillors, particularly for women.
Both the Scottish Government and COSLA recognise the need for a review of Councillor pay and that this would be an important step towards supporting an increase in the diversity of Scotland’s local elected members. We want to encourage people from across our communities who wish to stand as a Councillor in their local area.
We have therefore jointly committed to undertaking an independent review of Councillor remuneration. This review will be undertaken at pace to examine the terms and conditions of the Councillor role, in particular the current rate of pay. The review will commence as soon as possible after the forthcoming Local Government elections to ensure that terms and conditions truly reflect the responsibilities of the 21st century Councillor.
SNP Has A Real Brass Neck - 5.2% For Some, But Just 2.2% For Others! (May 23, 2022)
The Scottish Government hands council bosses a handsome pay rise of 5.2% (on top of 4.2% last year) with the promise of more to come in 2023 after a review of councillors' pay.
SNP ministers then have the cheek to lecture other council workers, and other public sector workers, about tightening their belts.
Pay Bonanza For Scottish Council Bosses! (May 22, 2022)
SNP ministers have given council bosses a bumper 9.4% increase in the space of just 12 months.
Meanwhile low paid council workers are denied the same generous treatment and are planning to go on strike.
The 5.2% pay award this year (2022) is on top of a 4.2% pay award in 2021 - and SNP ministers have also agreed to a joint 'independent' review of councillors pay the purpose of which is to deliver another, even bigger pay rise in 2023.
Now I don't see how a pay review can be properly independent if it is conducted jointly with COSLA.
Because COSLA represents councillors' interests and its members are all - you guessed it - councillors .
So who is looking out for the public interest - are they all just having a laugh at the taxpayers expense?
In any event if union members are looking for a good slogan for their pay campaign, I'd suggest something along the following lines:
What Do We Want?
9.4% - and not a penny less!
Social justice, of course, demands this must be backdated to 1 April 2022 - just like council bosses, otherwise both they and Scottish Ministers will be acting like hypocrites.
Statement from the Scottish Government and COSLA: increasing the diversity of local councillors
Announcement of a joint independent review of councillor's pay to help support increasing the diversity on Scotland’s councils.
Increasing the diversity of Councillors is a priority shared by COSLA and the Scottish Government.
Councillors are a key part of Scotland’s democratic governance. Therefore, ensuring that varied lived experience from across our communities is represented among Councillors is essential.
In recognition of this, the Scottish Government introduced a new mechanism in 2017 to ensure Councillors' pay is increased annually in line with the percentage increase in the median annual earnings of public sector workers in Scotland. This will ensure that Councillors will receive a pay increase of 5.2% from 1 April 2022, taking the salary of an ordinary Councillor up to £19,571.
However, the current level of remuneration is still one of the major concerns regularly raised as a barrier to recruiting and retaining Councillors, particularly for women.
Both the Scottish Government and COSLA recognise the need for a review of Councillor pay and that this would be an important step towards supporting an increase in the diversity of Scotland’s local elected members. We want to encourage people from across our communities who wish to stand as a Councillor in their local area.
We have therefore jointly committed to undertaking an independent review of Councillor remuneration. This review will be undertaken at pace to examine the terms and conditions of the Councillor role, in particular the current rate of pay. The review will commence as soon as possible after the forthcoming Local Government elections to ensure that terms and conditions truly reflect the responsibilities of the 21st century Councillor.
