Councillors have voted to give themselves a pay rise of between nearly £500 to £1,000 a year. 

Politicians approved their payroll levels last week on the same day of the budget - when they voted to increase council tax by 4.79 per cent and make dozens of cuts to services along with charge hikes.

South Ayrshire politicians will get an allowance increase of 2.8 per cent, which is above the current inflation rate of 1.8 per cent.

Council leader Douglas Campbell’s wage will go up by £952 from April bringing his annual earnings to £34,944.

Provost Helen Moonie will get about a £714 pay jump – amounting to a yearly wage of £26,208.

The basic salary for every councillor will surge by £476 per year – equating to a salary of £17,470 each.

The six members of the Leadership Panel will get paid £23,481 for the upcoming year – receiving a £640 wage rise. 

They include SNP Councillors Ian Cochrane, William Grant, Peter Henderson, and Labour Councillors Brian McGinley and Philip Saxton.

Another six ‘senior’ councillors will earn £21,158 getting £576 more per year.

A report presented to full council said councillors pay is set in line with the percentage increase in the median annual earnings of public sector workers in Scotland.

Councillor Douglas Campbell moved the report and recommendations, which was seconded by depute leader Councillor Brian McGinley.