Councillor expenses
Allowances
All the elected members are paid a Basic Allowance each year. This relates to the work they all do as local councillors, representing their constituents, travelling round the borough, and attending meetings.
Some members with additional duties and responsibilities also receive a Special Responsibility Allowance for the extra work in relation to that further responsibility.
Both types of allowances are subject to taxation.
Expenses Refunds
Members can reclaim a limited range of travel and other expenses they have paid out of their own pocket when they have had to travel out of the borough or when they are out of pocket for some other approved reason, such as child care expenses for when they have to attend an important community meeting.
We have an Independent Panel which considers allowances for our members and we take into consideration their recommendations when making this scheme. The levels of payments were agreed at Annual Council in May 2023.