Norwich City councillors in Norfolk voted in March 2026 to delay a proposed pay rise for the second time, despite many members stating that their current earnings are too low. The decision to put off the increase comes as the local government prepares for a major reorganisation that will see the current authority replaced by a larger council.
A report from an Independent Remuneration Panel suggested that the basic yearly allowance for members should increase from £7,805 to £9,755. This recommendation followed a survey where 70 per cent of the councillors at Norwich City Council who responded said that their current pay was not enough to cover the time spent on their duties.
Council leader Mike Stonard and Liberal Democrat leader James Wright supported the move to wait, explaining that it would be inappropriate to approve a £1,950 increase while the future of the council is uncertain. The local authority is currently planning for a transition where it will be dissolved and merged into a new unitary authority to manage services across a wider area.
While the main pay hike was deferred, the council did vote to increase the carer’s allowance from £10 to £14.90 per hour to help members with family responsibilities. The local Green Party noted that the actual value of councillor pay has dropped by 5 per cent since 2016, but they also agreed with the decision to postpone the wider pay changes.
