An annual increase in the basic allowance for councillors, worth over £400, was deferred at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council on Monday evening, February 17.
Over recent days the public reacted angrily to news of the hike in payments. The issue was more sharply brought to focus in light of the recent announcement from Council that rates would increase by 3.99% for the borough’s residents and businesses in 2025/26.
Over the last two years in Mid and East Antrim, domestic rates have increased by almost 14% while non-domestic rates have soared by close to 16% - a cost lumbered and weighing heavily on ratepayers.
On Monday night the full council meeting sat in The Braid, chaired by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Bréanainn Lyness (Sinn Féin, Ballymena). When Councillor Lyness asked for a proposer and a seconder, Councillor Lauren Gray (Alliance, Carrick Castle) responded:
“I would like to propose that we defer this decision tonight being that the Minister has stated he intends to remove this decision from councillors, and in that spirit I think we should leave the decision up to him.”
Councillor Gray’s response was seconded by Councillor Ian Friary (Sinn Féin, Bannside).
Councillors currently receive a basic allowance of £17,030 plus other expenses. Full details of these allowances are outlined in our previous article here.
In December 2023, Department for Communities (DfC) announced the appointment of Mr Maynard Mawhinney as the Independent Chair of a working group to review the roles and responsibilities of councillors in Northern Ireland.
The Chair and working group conducted this review and has since made recommendations to the Department on the system and level of the range of allowances available to councillors in Northern Ireland.
These are currently being considered by DfC under Communities Minister Gordon Lyons MLA. It is understood that an increase has been proposed to the councillor’s annual basic allowance that will see it rise to a figure between £22-25,000.
Meanwhile ahead of Monday’s Council meeting, a councillor spoke with Love Ballymena and is calling for greater transparency from Mid and East Antrim
Borough Council, while urging fellow councillors to “show selflessness and leadership”.
The councillor told Love Ballymena:
“It’s alarming and absurd that this expenses report is deep buried in the Council website. The majority of residents probably don’t know that it’s even there.
“This is not good for openness, governance and accountability.
The councillor added:
“Additionally, councillors should reconsider what they claim for. Some should show selflessness and leadership by not claiming as much - especially ones who reside short distances away from a meeting venue.
“By easing this burden on the ratepayer, especially after a rates increase, it will help restore trust in councillors.”