Mayor’s rethink on plan to cut wages

Peter Davies has attracted criticism from unions and his political opponents after the pay cut was agreed last Monday, but told the Yorkshire Post work was now ongoing to help those on the lowest wages.

The reduction in salaries forms part of a £6.2m package of savings on staff terms and conditions which finance chiefs at the authority say are necessary to meet Government funding cuts of £80m by 2014.

Labour politicians, who hold the largest number of seats on the council, accused Mr Davies of “dishonesty” when he branded wage cuts “appalling” last week, saying he had set the budget and was responsible.

But Mr Davies said he had been “aware” of the £6.2m savings figure, but added he had not been told that the burden would fall on workers who were being paid some of the authority’s lowest wages.