Pay rise for Wellington city councillors

BY JIM CHIPP

Wellington's four lowest-ranked councillors could be in for a $2000 a year raise.

The Remuneration Authority has recommended no change in the pool available for councillor salaries, but has specified that it all be spent on salaries. It has also required the council to close the salary gap between senior portfolio leaders, committee chairpersons and rank-and-file councillors.

That means an increase of 3.2 per cent for Rob Goulden, Bryan Pepperell, Jo Coughlan and Helene Ritchie, the four councillors who have no portfolio or committee chairmanship.

When The Wellingtonian asked a panel to appraise councillors' performances at the mid-point of the triennium last year, Mr Pepperell received one of the two poorest reports. The other three were judged middling performers.

Last year, councillors requested that there be no increase in recognition of the hardship the recession was causing to ratepayers. Mayor Kerry Prendergast's salary was increased by the authority, outside her or the council's control, though she pledged to donate any increase to charity.

The surplus money in the pool last year was partly used to pay community board fees. There was a balance of $20,503 unspent. This must be allocated this year.

The council strategy and policy committee will consider the proposed salary changes this week and, if adopted, the Remuneration Authority will be asked to approve them.

JONES WOULD HALVE COSTS

Is it the proper role of the Remuneration Authority to set councillors' salaries or just to set what would be an appropriate limit, leaving the final decision to councils?

The Wellingtonian asked Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, Local Government Minister Rodney Hide and would-be council reformer Sir Robert Jones.

Ms Prendergast said the authority allowed the council to withhold an increase to councillor salaries last year but she would not comment on how appropriate it was for it to insist on raises this year, and to dictate how much should be paid to whom.

"I guess they [Remuneration Authority] thinks the gap between the heavy-lifters, so to speak, [and ordinary councillors] is too big," she said.

"I think that it is council decision.

"Being pragmatic, if you have one or two years with no increase, when you do an evaluation, that increase gets quite large."

Sir Robert would not comment, saying it would distract from the important issue that his group would stand for – pedestrianising the Golden Mile.

"If I were running the show, as a dictator, I would halve the costs. It's just outrageous, the tokenism."

Mr Hide responded through a spokesman, saying the Local Government Minister did not comment on council remuneration matters.

WHAT COUNCILLORS WOULD GET

Council member	Present salary	Proposed salary	Additional directorship fees
Ray Ahipene-Mercer	$86,456	$87,510	$19,200
Ngaire Best	$86,456	$87,510
Stephanie Cook	$73,325	$74,220	$13,000
Jo Coughlan	$67,114	$69,240	$13,000
Andy Foster	$86,456	$88,409	$15,000
Leonie Gill	$83,325	$84,345
Rob Goulden	$67,114	$69,240
Ian McKinnon	$106,720	$107,615
John Morrison	$86,456	$87,510	$15,000
Iona Pannett	$73,325	$74,220
Bryan Pepperell	$67,114	$69,240
Kerry Prendergast	$153,660	$153,660	$37,500
Helene Ritchie	$67,114	$69,240
Hayley Wain	$73,325	$74,220	$13,000
Celia Wade-Brown	$86,456	$87,510	$13,000

- The Wellingtonian