PLANS to award a council chair an extra £2,500 a year have been scrapped.

Last month, Gwynedd Council’s democratic services committee recommended that the council chair should see pay upgraded to “band one” status to reflect the number of hours the councillor put in to the ceremonial role.

But during last week’s full council meeting in Caernarfon, Gwynedd’s 75 councillors turned down the recommendation, which was described as “unjustifiable in the present economic climate”.

Plaid Cymru Cabinet member Cllr Nia Jeffreys said: “I do believe in paying councillors a fair wage, especially if we want to attract people from less privileged backgrounds.

“But I’m afraid that in the current climate, raising the chair’s wage is a step too far for me personally. As an amendment I recommend we keep it at band two.”

Llais Gwynedd member Cllr Alwyn Gruffydd echoed her sentiments.

“I agree we should restrict the chair’s wages to level two, I don’t think we can justify that in the climate we find ourselves in and am very happy to support her amendment.”

At present, the council chair role is afforded “band two” status, meaning they will receive £21,800 in 2018/19.

But, had Gwynedd’s full council accepted the committee’s recommendation, their pay would have risen to £24,300.

However, not all members were in agreement with Cllr Jeffreys’ amendment.

“As a former council chair, I know the amount of work that goes into the role,” said Cllr Anne Lloyd Jones.

“I’d like to congratulate Nia for her new cabinet position which has a salary of £29,300, while every committee chair receives £22,300.

“Yet the chair is expected to go out to several functions a week for £21,000.

“That’s why, as a committee, we recommended the change.”

See this week’s north papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now