No Councillor Allowances

Question

Is it usual for a Council to remove Councillor Allowances? And is there a robust argument to be had to reverse this historic decision based on equality? Having read through policies, we can only claim back travel expenses and Cllr expenses have been reduced by 80%. Dividing the figure by all the Cllrs is around £6.60 a year roughly although of course it's not applied in that way. Essentially I alone would wipe that out with a taxi to a training event as they're never in our area. I recall being offered some training once, when looking back, but the cost of a taxi was more than the training!?
I'm aware presently Cllrs can't reclaim childcare but this could be partially covered by an allowance, and things like folders, paper, ink, printing
It also means it's harder to attract a diverse range of candidates.
What would be considered a "reasonable" Cllr allowance? We have a minimum of 12 meetings a year and lots of EO's.

Answer 1

Whatever allowances you offer must be the same for every elected councillor, except the Chairman.

Co-opted councillors are not entitled, by law, to allowances, but can claim travel and other incurred costs with receipts.

Many councils, I know of pay the chairman an allowance but dont expect them to claim mileage etc.
But allow other councillors can claim for travel (as this is not limited to elected councillors). This creates a more equitable and accountable use of funds than just paying some, and by the end of 4 years, fewer and fewer councillors an allowance. (due to a higher rate of councillors being co-opted)

Comments

Thank you. We are quite lucky as we have no co-opted Cllrs  and they're will nearly always be an elections here for many reasons.
I presume therefore expenses such as travel have to be covered even if surpasses the budget? It's quite frustrating but if legally I can claim back folders etc, then I'll obviously keep the receipts from this point onwards.

Answer 2

The regulations are included in Sections 173-178 of the LGA 1972. In simple terms, allowances are payable by parish and town councils for the necessary performance of an approved duty outside the parish boundary. The sums payable and the procedural issues are, largely speaking, a matter for the council to determine, so there is no obligation on a council to pay anything at all.

The only other form of allowance is the Chairman's annual expenses allowance, covered by Section 15(5). If you are not the Chair, there is currently no allowance payable for the core costs of being a councillor. The NALC has lobbied for a childcare allowance to be permitted, and perversely, the Coronavirus pandemic may accelerate a revision of parts of the LGA to allow this. In the meantime, stationery, ink (or access to a printer), postage etc for individual members could be covered by the Clerk through the council's admin budget.

For attendance at training courses, the cost of the course and the re-imbursement of necessary travel costs should be covered by the council from the training budget.

Comments

Thank you. That's really helpful.