Allowances for councillors set to rise by 3.18%

INCREASES WILL MATCH THOSE OF STAFF PAID THE LEAST

- By DANIEL HOLLAND

COUNCILLORS in Newcastle will take a pay rise of around 3% next year, after voting to limit their increase to match that of the council's lowest-paid workers.

The city's elected representatives agreed this month that their basic annual allowance should increase by 3.18% in 2026, taking it from £10,218 to £10,543.

Often reluctant to accept pay uplifts at a time when the local authority is preparing budget cuts and council tax rises, councillors had agreed 12 months ago that their rise for 2026/27 would be set at the same rate as the lowest-earning Civic Centre employees.

That decision was formally signed off at a meeting earlier this month, with councillors voting 44 to nine in favour of the move.