Glasgow council leader Susan Aitken to be paid £58,719 salary

Glasgow council leader Susan Aitken will be paid a salary of £58,719 this year, it has been confirmed.

Basic annual earnings for councillors are set at £19,571, but they get a greater sum with extra responsibilities including chairing committees.

The council’s new deputy leader, SNP Councillor Ricky Bell – who is also city treasurer and convenor for final inclusion – will receive £43,132. Earning the same is party colleague Councillor Greg Hepburn as business manager and convenor for open government.

Newly appointed Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren, SNP, will get £44,039 for the year ahead while depute Lord Provost Christy Mearns, Greens, is to earn £32,960

Twenty three “senior” councillors will earn £735,054 between them. That total excludes the council leader and Lord Provosts’ allowances.

Six of the senior councillors will earn £36,969. They include chair of Glasgow Life and convenor for culture sport and international relations SNP councillor Annette Christie and Allan Casey, convenor for workforce and homelessness and addiction services.

Another 14 councillors, which includes committee chairs and leaders of the opposition will get an allowance of £28,144 each.

The allowances were approved by councillors at a full council meeting this morning in the headquarters in George Square. No comments were made.

The amounts have been decided for the financial year of 2022 to the end of March 2023. The allowances are set out in legislation.