Councillor pay will increase by just less than 3.3%

Councillor pay is set annually by the Scottish Government and the basic salary of a councillor in West Lothian will increase by just less than 3.3% next year.

The new salaries that will be applied for councillors of West Lothian Council are set out in the table below and we have provided some context on how a councillors salary compares to other elected members.  

• MSPs are to get a pay rise of more than £3,000 from April, the Scottish Parliament has confirmed. The 4.3% increase will mean salaries increase from £74,507 to £77,710

• MPs' basic salary will rise by 5% to £98,599 a year from April. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) said it was also aiming to move towards a salary of around £110,000 by the end of the Parliament, due in 2029

Legally, in accordance with relevant Regulations, the salaries and allowances of all councillors are published each year. Detail are made available to members of the public online.

The Scottish Government has introduced amendment Regulations that will take effect from 1 April 2026 and affects all councils in Scotland. In West Lothian, those regulations will set new salaries for all ordinary councillors, Council Leaders, Civic Heads and Senior Councillors

As there changes are set out in legislation, individual councils cannot accept or reject the changes.

The Scottish Local Authority Remuneration Committee (SLARC) was commissioned in 2023 to look at how the roles of councillor has changed and grown in recent years. The SLARC report aimed to address some of the barriers that prevent under-represented groups, such as women, those with disabilities, people under 55 and those from less affluent backgrounds, standing to become councillors. Evidence gathered by SLARC showed that the low level of pay was one of the biggest barriers to elected office for these groups. The new salaries will assist in addressing some of the barriers that prevent under-represented groups standing to become councillors