We can pay elected councillors (members) certain allowances and expenses.
What we pay them for, and the amount they are entitled to, is decided by 'Full Council' who in turn consult an Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) on recommendations for the 'Scheme of Allowances'.
Review of Members' Scheme of Allowances
The most recent review of the Members' Scheme of Allowances and expenses was carried out in 2023/24 by the Independent Remuneration Panel. The Panel’s recommendations were accepted by Full Council at their meeting on 21 March 2024 and the changes were backdated to 1 April 2024.
Download related documentation:
- Councillors Allowances report of the Monitoring Officer
- IRP Terms of Reference
- IRP Final Report, 2024
Previous reviews of the scheme
Download previous IRP reports:
It should be noted that the Council did not accept any of the recommended payable amounts for basic or 'special responsibility allowances' put forward by the IRP in 2007. Instead the Council agreed a slight increase in basic allowance from £6,300 to £7k circa to take effect from 2008.
In 2012 the Council again did not accept recommendations for increases in allowances generally, but subsequently approved a change in the list of approved duties for which travel could be reimbursed.
In 2015, the Panel’s recommendations were accepted by Full Council at their meeting on 17 December 2015 and were implemented with effect from 1 January 2016.
In 2019, the Panel’s recommendations were accepted by Full Council at their meeting on 19 December 2019 and the changes were backdated to 22 May 2019.