ROCHDALE COUNCILLORS APPROVE PAY RISE TO £13,515 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE

Rochdale councillors voted to increase the basic annual allowance from £12,996.09 to £13,515 at a town hall meeting on 16 July. The allowance covers travel to meetings, information technology equipment and constituency work. The Labour-controlled council had sufficient votes to pass the measure, with only the basic allowance rising; all other special allowances remained unchanged.

Reform and the Workers Party opposed the increase during debate in the chamber. Coun Mohammed Shafiq of the Workers Party described the pay rise as "inappropriate" given the financial struggles of families across the borough. Coun John Taylor, leader of Reform, stated that a cost of living crisis was affecting the area and that the vote was unsuitable. Council leader Neil Emmott noted that councillors voting against the rise were not obliged to claim the full allowance if they chose not to.

Labour councillors defended the decision, arguing that Rochdale's allowances remained substantially lower than those in other Greater Manchester councils. Coun Kath Bromfield contended that the increase enabled people without independent financial means to participate in local politics. Coun Dylan Williams stated that the role consumed weekends and evenings and that the allowance amounted to less than minimum wage when hours were calculated.