Nottinghamshire County Councillors to vote on changes in pay after changes in political balance

Nottinghamshire county councillors are expected to vote on changes to some members’ pay following a change in political balance.

In November last year, all 66 of Nottinghamshire County Council’s politicians received an increase to their basic allowance by £413.

The allowance increased from £16,512 per year to £16,925.

Councillors with positions of additional authority also receive a special responsibility allowance on top of the basic sum, and this too was increased.

Those with a special responsibility allowance include the leader, cabinet members and the opposition leader.

The council leader’s extra allowance increased to £39,689.

The position is currently held by Sam Smith, and the additional pay increased his overall allowance to £56,614 per year.

This includes his ordinary councillor allowance and his special responsibility allowance as leader.

Cabinet members and the leader of the main minority group also got an uprated special allowance of £26,195 on top of the basic sum.

However, since November last year there have been changes to the political balance at the council, prompting the need for a review.

The Nottinghamshire County Independent Group and the Labour Group had equal numbers of councillors, meaning there was no single opposition group until recent changes.

However, the resignation of John McGrath from the Labour Party led to the Independent Group, fronted by its leader Jason Zadrozny, becoming the official opposition party.

In January, Mr McGrath was one of 18 councillors to resign from the Labour Party at Broxtowe Borough Council to form a new independent group, due to disagreements over the national party’s leadership under Sir Keir Starmer.

The changes mean some members will receive increased special responsibility allowances, in addition to the basic allowance.

Subject to a final decision at Full Council on Thursday (February 27), the Nottinghamshire County Independent Group will also take over vice chair roles on two of the main council committees, overview and planning, which also come with a higher special responsibility allowance.

Special responsibility allowances for any Labour Group members will then be reduced, as they are now the smaller minority group.

The updated approach has been agreed by the Independent Remuneration Panel – the body that recommends councillors’ pay.

Under the new pay proposals, Cllr Zadrozny’s allowance will increase to £43,120.

If approved at Thursday’s Full Council meeting, the new pay arrangements will be backdated to February 1.

* This article replaces a previous LDR story with incorrect information.