Councillors will be told on Monday that staff at Penrith Town Council will receive a 3.2% pay increase at the end of September, backdated to the 1st April 2025.
The council’s Finance Committee meeting on Monday (15th September) will be asked to simply note the increases, with council documents confirming: “The new rates of pay and backdated increases will be paid to Council staff at the end of September. The 2025-26 approved budget provides fully for the new rates of pay.”
The Town Council currently employs a Town Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Contracts and Services Manager, Responsible Financial Officer, Economic Development Officer, and Community Services Officer. The council’s annual staffing costs total £330,985, which accounts for around 75% of the town council’s total annual precept charged to Penrith households via council tax.
In August 2025, net pay for all staff amounted to £14,409.98, with additional contributions of £5,564.31 for HMRC PAYE/National Insurance and £5,087.98 for Cumbria Local Government Pensions, bringing the total staffing cost for the month to £25,062.27.
The councils budget agreed in January made provisions for a 2.5% pay inflation alongside the sharp increase in employer National Insurance contributions increase which have cost the council approximately a further £6,000 since the 1st April 2025.
Earlier this year it was also revealed through documents published by the town council the break down of the net pay of each council officer after deductions for a month was:
Town Clerk £3641.45
Deputy Clerk £1542.10
Contracts and Services Manager £3105.38
Solicitor £519.17
Responsible Financial Officer £1522.47
Economic Development Officer £2721.71
Community Services Officer £1541.90
The council is currently recruiting for a new Solicitor at 8 hours per week for £10,982 per year and has recently completed interviews for a newly created part-time Events Officer role at £34,628 per year.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
