ORGANISATIONS from around Blaenau Gwent are set for a share of just under £6,000 which has been donated from the salaries of county borough councillors.

This is just under half of the money that is in the presiding members fund as it stood at the end of December.

At Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council annual meeting on Thursday, May 23 councillors will receive a report recommending that 13 organisations received donations from the fund.

The largest donation of £2,381 is set to go to the Blaenau Gwent food bank.

The council agreed to set up the fund which would receive wages that Blaenau Gwent Councillors wish to give up, back in May 2022

At the time councillors were unhappy that they were being forced to receive a wage increase while the cost-of-living crisis was causing pain to many Blaenau Gwent residents.

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) set councillor’s wages.

Councils have no choice but to pay the salary and councillors can write to the head of finance at their local authority to say if they want to “forego” part of their wages.

The report said: “The total contributions to the fund is £12,588.15, with initial awards totalling £6,594.23 agreed by council in January.

“The balance remaining is £5,993.92; this report considers a further tranche of awards. ”