General guidance
1. Introduction
1.1 Elected Members are entitled to claim certain allowances in recognition of the time devoted by them to their work and are also entitled to claim allowances for travel and subsistence costs. The Council in exercise of powers conferred under the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowance) Regulations 2003 are able to make provision for the payment of allowances to Elected Members and coopted members. The Allowances Scheme will operate from the 1st April through to the 31st March of the following year and the Council have a duty to have regard to the recommendations made by an Independent Remuneration Panel.
1.2 The Independent Remuneration Panel has been established by the Council under the provisions of the Local Government Act 2000 Act and applicable regulations with the selection of the Panel being made by the Council’s Audit and Governance Committee.
1.3 The Panel’s job is to make recommendation to Council on a range of issues.
The responsibilities of the Panel are:
- To recommend the level of basic allowance payable to all Elected Members of the Council to cover their normal duties as a Councillor.
- To consider whether a Dependant Carer’s allowance should be payable to relevant Elected Members and if so at what level.
- To recommend the assignment of an appropriate special responsibility allowance for each carrying additional responsibilities.
- To make recommendations to the Council on travelling and subsistence allowances to be paid to all Elected Members.
1.4 Whilst the Council is not obliged to accept these recommendations it is strongly influenced by them and must give them due consideration. The Council cannot set allowances which exceed those recommended by the IRP.