Draft plans for Gwynedd councillors’ 3% rise in salaries supported

Draft plans for a 3% rise in councillors’ pay have been supported in Gwynedd.

A basic salary has been proposed at £21,676, for 2027/28, the basic salary in 2026/27 was £21,044 and in 2025/26, £19,771.

The Democracy Services Committee was asked for comments over the proposed decisions, in order to draw up a response to a Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru consultation.

The Commission is the body responsible for setting the payment levels for all Welsh councillors.

The committee had been discussing the Commission’s report on Financial Remuneration to Councillors for 2027/28for 2027/28, at its meeting in Caernarfon, on Tuesday, November 3

The draft changes, if they come into force, will be published by the end of February, 2027, and could be effective for the 2027-28 financial year, namely April 1, 2027.

A consultation into the matter is due to close on December 17, 2026

In considering the report, a second by the DBCC with the draft document, it was noted that local government elections were due in May, 2027.

In a report presented by the Democracy and Language Services Manager Vera Jones, the Commission had concluded that “no major changes” were required to the framework prior to the election,” she said.

It meant that the report included upgraded amounts “where appropriate,” but the framework for the payments had been left unchanged.

A basic salary is paid to every elected member is remuneration for the responsibility of representing the community.

The payment also acknowledges their work participating in scrutiny and regulatory work and the functions associated with local governance.

The figure has been based on a sum equivalent to three full days per working week.

The Commission decided that choosing a measure relating to the cost of-living “was appropriate” the report said.

It used the Consumer Price Index, including the costs of owner-occupiers (CPIH) as a basis for the financial remuneration levels within its remit.

The report explained the latest figure available, was the figure for May, 2026 relating to an increase of 3%.

The Commission has also been seeking the views of authorities on the use of the Consumer Price Index as a basis to the annual increase as a part of the
consultation.

At the Gwynedd meeting the Committee agreed with the draft changes, on that decision basis.

The report also noted there would be no change in the cap on the number of senior salaries for Cyngor Gwynedd, the figure remaining at 18.

The increase to the “senior” element of the salaries was also 3% for each role.

The basic salary (payable to every elected member) was listed as likely to be in 2027/28 as £21,676. Among others outlined, it listed:

Band 1: leaders could receive £73,156, Band 1: deputy leader £51,209 Band 2: executive members £43,893, Band 3: committee chairs (if the role receives a remuneration) £32,514, Band 4: the leader of the largest opposition party
£32,514, Band 5: leaders of other political groups £26,011, Civic Head (Chair of the Council) £32,514, Deputy Civic Head (Vice-chair of the Council) £26,011.

Proposing the recommendation Cllr Edgar Wyn Owen said: “I think 3% is very fair and I recommend we go with the recommendation.”

The item was passed in a vote.

By Dale Spridgeon – BBC Local Democracy Reporting Service