With hundreds of council staff facing redundancy, Kirklees Council’s leader-elect Cathy Scott wants to cut councillors’ pay.

Councillors are paid ‘allowances’ for the work they do and Clr Scott wants to make savings of at least £100,000 a year.

Clr Scott has agreed to take an immediate cut of 10% in her leader’s salary of £27,210 and the other nine Cabinet members have agreed to a 5% cut to their £13,709 salaries.

All 69 Kirklees councillors receive a basic allowance of £15,080 each so Clr Scott and her Cabinet members receive that too.

Clr Scott was previously deputy leader with a salary of £20,618 so even with a 10% cut to her new salary, she’s had a substantial pay rise moving into the top job.

Clr Scott is due to be officially elected as council leader at a full council meeting on September 13. At the same meeting a report will be presented on cuts to councillors’ allowances.

Cathy Scott set to become new leader of Kirklees Council as she names new-look Cabinet

Clr Scott said: “In this tough financial climate, I believe that councillors need to take their fair share of the burden and show that we understand the difficult challenges families across our area are facing in the cost-of-living crisis.

“I have asked council officers to start a formal review of councillors’ allowances, with a view to making savings of at least £100,000 on the current annual cost. Every penny we can save frees up funding for vital local services which we want to protect.

“Councillors from all parties play an important role in communities across Kirklees. But, in difficult times, it’s important for us to show that we are putting the interests of the public above our own, stepping up to the challenges that we face, and that we are on the side of hardworking families across Kirklees.

“That is exactly what this new leadership intends to do.”

A list of what Kirklees councillors are paid in allowances can be found HERE.

Kirklees Council has to save £47 million this financial year and could make up to 750 staff redundant.

The council’s biggest union UNISON has started consulting its 4,500 members over a possible strike ballot.

UNISON represents more than half the council’s 8,500 workforce and any strike would hit services across the council.

Kirklees Council staff consulted over possible strike ballot as UNISON vows to fight job losses