Opinion: We Should Pay Councillors Properly

Published on: 9 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 12 Dec, 2025

Councillor Allowances

By Brian Creese

Labour party activist

It is not difficult to find people ready to let us know that we pay “them” too much, “them” being councillors, MPs, ministers, etc.

Of course, in the old paternalistic days when only the toffs had power, there was no need to pay anyone to do these things. It was the rise of Labour MPs from poorer backgrounds that led to a proper rate of pay, eventually, being given to MPs (they currently receive a basic salary of £93,904); paying councillors was an even later innovation.

If you are a younger person, or have a young family, [councillor allowances are] obviously not an adequate return for the hours involved…”

Currently, a GBC councillor receives an “allowance” of £8,579 a year. More senior positions within the council will attract “special responsibility” allowances on top of this.

GBC Councillor responsibility allowances in addition to the basic. GBC website

But however you look at it, it is not a proper wage for a proper job. If you are a younger person, or have a young family, this is obviously not an adequate return for the hours involved, so unsurprisingly the council is dominated by older people who have pensions to fall back on.

The problem with this is that the representation of those below 60 is poor, and younger people do not gain proper representation.

The classic example is with building development. I have yet to speak to anyone under 35 in Guildford who doesn’t want to see a massive increase in building across all parts of the borough, not a view frequently voiced in the council chamber.

Which brings us to the new West Surrey Council for which there will be elections in May next year. Being a councillor for West Surrey is the equivalent of being both a borough and a county councillor combined.

Surrey will have two unitary authorities West and East Surrey

This is a serious job, with serious responsibilities and if we are to be properly represented we need very good candidates with up to date financial, IT and legal knowledge. If we want to attract high quality candidates, we need to offer a decent financial reward, a proper salary. If we don’t do that, we will be left with the same unrepresentative mix of people towards the end of their careers who don’t need a full-time wage.

My view is that being a councillor on the new West Surrey Council is not a part time, amateur role, but a professional and highly responsible role. We need to have the best candidates competing for these roles and if we insist on paying peanuts… well, we won’t get the quality we need.

See also 2012 article: Open Debate – Should We Pay Our Councillors?