COUNCILLOR pay was a point of contention at the first meeting of the Cumberland Council this week.

The first members of a new unitary authority were elected on May 5 and will serve as a Shadow Authority, alongside existing councils until Vesting Day when they take over as the sole representatives of each area.

During its shadow year, the new Cumberland Council for Carlisle, Allerdale and Copeland is making key decisions on matters such as members’ allowances and the constitution, to ensure a smooth transition of power by April 1, 2023.

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In its first meeting, held at the Civic Centre in Carlisle on May 17, the Shadow Authority was asked to consider a scheme for paying of allowances to members.

Councillors were told that before an authority makes a scheme for its members, it must consider the recommendations of an Independent Renumeration Panel.

The experienced panel recommended that one allowance scheme be created for the two new unitary councils of Cumberland in the west, Westmorland & Furness in the east.

Panel members came to their decision based on details of existing district and county allowance schemes and that of four unitary authorities.

The recommendation was that only 50 per cent of the allowance be paid during the shadow year, as councillors who also on the county and district councils will already receive an allowance for those authorities.

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Liberal Democrat member for Corby and Hayton, Roger Dobson did not think it was appropriate for members to vote on their own pay.

He said: “It is an unedifying and distasteful spectacle that we are required to take responsibility for determining our own pay.

“The sooner we follow the example of our neighbours in Stockton, Wales and Northern Ireland, the better. They do not have this dilemma because they are truly independent renumeration bodies.

“It is unfortunate that the timetable for local government reform required the production of this report today. This is a case of more haste less speed.”

Cllr Dobson believes that the proposed scheme does not take all factors into account including the cost of living crisis: “Our panel has taken data which is over a year old from North Northamptonshire and applied it two years in the future, and this during a time of very high inflation.”

Councillor Lisa Brown, deputy leader of the council successfully proposed that an Independent Renumeration Panel be convened to bring back a new members allowance scheme for future consideration.

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