“Council Tax Up, Services Down: Questions Over Spending in Rhondda Cynon Taf”

Rising council tax, overflowing bins and increasingly dirty streets are becoming a common complaint across Rhondda Cynon Taf — but newly examined figures suggest spending at the top of the council remains substantial.

Data from the TaxPayers’ Alliance “Town Hall Rich List 2026”, alongside the council’s own published accounts, shows senior officers earning well into six figures, with the chief executive receiving a total remuneration package of around £200,000. At the same time, councillor allowances — particularly for cabinet members, committee chairs and senior roles — continue to add significantly to the overall cost of running the authority.

Among those listed in council payment records is Andrew Morgan, a serving councillor and former leader, who received senior-level allowances in previous years. Current leadership and cabinet arrangements continue to attract enhanced payments under the Welsh Local Government Association Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Residents, however, say the issue is not just how much is being spent, but what they are seeing in return. From waste and dog bins left overflowing to visible declines in street cleanliness and routine maintenance, questions are increasingly being asked about whether basic services are being prioritised — especially as households face year-on-year increases in council tax.

The figures below provide a detailed breakdown of councillor allowances, senior salaries and additional payments across Rhondda Cynon Taf Council.

Data from the Rich List shows a significant number of senior officers earning well into six figures.

At the top sits chief executive Paul Mee, with:

£168,000 salary
£32,000 additional payments
Total remuneration: £200,000

Other senior roles include:

Deputy Chief Executive: £143,000 salary → £170,000 total
Multiple Directors: typically £110,000 salaries, rising to ~£131,000 total with pension contributions
Additional senior posts ranging between £102,500 and £127,500

The data indicates a broad senior management structure with many roles clustered in the £100k–£130k bracket.

Council leader and political leadership pay

Council leader Andrew Morgan was the highest-paid elected member. He is now a councillor and chair of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Salary: £69,840 per annum. Time Commitment: Based on a 15-day per month commitment, he starts on 5 May 2026.

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For 2024–25:

£69,578.89 salary
£229.50 in allowances
Total: £69,808.39
£13,011.22 pension contributions

Under the Welsh Local Government Association framework, the Leader role carries an additional allowance of £14,042.37 (2025–26) on top of the basic councillor salary.

Earlier figures show the upward trajectory:

2022–23: £6,262.80 (+ NI)
2023–24: £11,999.80 (+ NI)

Cabinet members and senior councillors

Cabinet members receive enhanced salaries reflecting executive responsibilities, typically around £41,700–£42,500, including:

Gareth Caple
Ann Crimmings
Bob Harris
Rhys Lewis
Christina Leyshon
Maureen Norris

Deputy Leader Maureen Webber receives £48,705.56, reflecting additional responsibility.

Opposition leadership

Leader of the Opposition Karan Morgan received:

£27,831.36 in allowances
£5,204.49 pension contributions

This aligns with senior salary bands for non-executive leadership roles.

Base pay—and how it increases

The basic councillor salary is £18,554.25, but real earnings vary significantly.

Typical additions include:

Travel allowance (~£74)
Small reimbursements (varies by member)

This brings many councillors to around £18,600–£18,900 annually.

However, additional roles increase earnings substantially:

Committee Chairs: ~£27,831+
Presiding Member: ~£26,982
Mayor roles: £25,000+

“Hidden” payments beyond headline totals

Headline totals often exclude or obscure several additional income streams.

1. Outside body payments

Some councillors receive extra payments from external organisations, including:

Community councils (~£200+)
South Wales Police and Crime Panel payments (up to ~£920)
Brecon Beacons National Park Authority payments (over £5,900 in one case)

2. Role-based supplements

Committee chair and deputy chair payments
Civic roles (Mayor/Deputy Mayor)
Cabinet and presiding roles

3. Expense and support allowances

The dataset shows:

Travel
Broadband
Phone
Subsistence
Care cost reimbursements

While individually modest, these contribute to overall remuneration.

Total cost

For 2024–25:

Total councillor payments: £1.73 million
Employer pension contributions: £273,795.78

This does not include senior officer salaries, which add significantly to overall governance costs.

Growing debate

The combined data from the Rich List and council disclosures highlights a two-tier structure:

Senior officers earning £100k–£200k+
Councillors earning £18k–£70k+ depending on role

Critics argue that when layered together—including pensions and external payments—the total cost raises questions about value for money.

Supporters counter that:

Pay levels are set within national frameworks
Roles carry significant responsibility
Many positions are effectively full-time

What is clear is that the full picture goes beyond basic salaries, with allowances, pensions and external roles all contributing to the final totals now under increasing public scrutiny.

Town Hall Rich List 2026