BARNSLEY’S councillors collectively picked up more than £1m through annual wages and allowances over the latest 12-month period, the Chronicle can reveal.
There are 63 councillors - three in 21 wards - and each received the basic £12,237 salary.
In addition to their annual wage, some councillors receive special responsibility pay for carrying out extra duties such as serving on the council’s ruling cabinet or chairing committees including planning, scrutiny or licensing boards.
Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton was paid the most at £42,328, with deputy leader of the council Caroline Makinson second as she received more than £31,000.
Meanwhile Couns Wendy Cain, Robin Franklin, Robert Frost, James Higginbottom, Sharon Howard and Jo Newing all pocketed more than £27,000.
Former councillors Sam Christmas - who stepped down from the Dodworth ward - and retired Jeff Ennis received the least due to their resignations.
The total paid to all councillors in wages and allowances for the last financial year was £1,065,909 - or £53,000 more than the previous year’s amount.
According to the council, this year’s allowances are not the largest ever, remaining eight per cent lower than in March 2022 after inflation is factored in.
It comes just two months after it was revealed that the council’s highest-earning employees collectively cost the town’s taxpayers more than £2m in wages and pensions in a single year.
Top earner is its chief executive, Sarah Norman, whose total package included a wage of £192,000 and a pension contribution of £31,000, totalling £223,000.
A spokesperson for Barnsley Council told the Chronicle: “All councillors receive a basic allowance in recognition of the work they do on behalf of the community, such as representing their constituents and attending council meetings.
“Members with extra responsibilities, for example, cabinet members and chairpersons of regulatory boards, also receive a ‘special responsibility allowance’ for the extra work involved.”
Councillors voted to increase their basic allowance last year, despite an independent remuneration panel originally suggesting a freeze, citing concerns over public perception of a significant pay increase.
Coun Robert Frost, cabinet spokesperson for core services, added: “All councillors receive a basic allowance to recognise the vital role they play in serving and championing our communities.
“These allowances are set by an independent body and reflect the work our councillors do on behalf of local people, such as representing their constituents and attending council meetings.
“This year’s account is the first time allowances have increased in three years, with costs still eight per cent lower than they were in March 2022 once inflation is factored in.”
