Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

Mid-Term Review of Members' Allowances Scheme

 

 

Meeting: 26/11/2025 - Council (Item 9.)

9. Mid-Term Review of Members' Allowances Scheme pdf icon PDF 561 KB

Purpose:

To present to Council the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel which has undertaken a mid-term review of the Council’s members’ allowances scheme.

 

Recommendation(s):

That Council considers the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, which are that:

1.    The special responsibility allowance (SRA) for Leader is increased from 3.0x the basic allowance to 3.5x the basic allowance.

2.    The SRA for Deputy Leader is increased from 2.0x basic to 2.5x basic.

3.    The SRA for Cabinet Member is increased from 1.5x basic to 2.0x basic.

4.    The SRA for Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee is increased from 1.0x basic to 1.5x basic.

5.    The SRA for Chair of Audit and Governance Committee is increased from 0.5x basic to 1.0x basic.

6.    Any agreed increases to SRAs are backdated to 1 April 2025 (being the mid-point of the 4-year Scheme).

7.    The existing allowance for Co-opted Members of £1,000 per annum is included in the Scheme.

8.    That additional clarification is provided on expenses claims in the Scheme, specifically that:

a.    The list of approved duties for which expenses can be claimed is included in the Scheme.

b.    VAT receipts are requested for mileage claims.

c.     Mileage claims should normally be calculated from the Councillor’s home address.

d.    Claims should be made within 3 months of the expenditure being incurred.

e.    Mileage rates are aligned with HMRC rates to prevent the creation of taxable benefits.

9.    Officers engage with town and parish councils in the New Year on the option of establishing a tiered allowances scheme to guide town and parish councils in the payment of allowances to elected town and parish councillors, to enable the Independent Remuneration Panel (as the Parish Remuneration Panel) to assess whether such guidance would be useful.

10.Note that the Parish Remuneration Panel has recommended to Cirencester Town Council that Cirencester Town Councillors (including the Chair) receive an allowance set at 20% of the basic allowance paid to Cotswold District Councillors.

Additional documents:

 

Related Pages