Councillor's allowances

The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 require local authorities to make a scheme of allowances for their members and to establish and maintain an independent remuneration panel to make recommendations to the Council about the scheme and the amounts to be paid. 

The Regulations make specific provision for the London Councils (formerly the Association of London Government) to establish a panel, which could exercise the functions of an independent remuneration panel on behalf of London borough councils.

This public notice sets out the allowances for councillors for the financial year 2010-11 based on the recommendations of the Independent Panel commissioned by the London Councils in their report The Remuneration of Councillors in London 2010. 

Allowances for 2011-12

Basic Allowance

Every local authority must make provision in its scheme of allowances for a basic flat rate allowance payable to all members. The allowance must be the same for every councillor and may be paid as a lump sum or in instalments through the year. The purpose of Basic Allowance is to recognise the time commitment of councillors but also to cover incidental expenses. The basic allowance is £10,596.31 during this period.

Special Responsibility Allowance

Each local authority may also make provision for the payment of Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) for those councillors who have significant responsibilities over and above the normal work of a ward councillor. See Roles with special responsibility allowances for a description of these roles.

The Panel has considered in broad terms the roles and responsibilities associated with the local authority structures and calculated five bands to reflect the different levels of responsibility involved in the new arrangements. Band Five is solely concerned with elected mayors and is not relevant to Wandsworth Council. It is for the councils to decide locally how to allocate their councillors between the different bands having regard to the recommendations of the Independent Panel.

The Council, in the main, adopted the Panel's recommendations at the mid point of the recommended range. Councillors, however, took a prudent approach and agreed not to accept the full recommended mid range amount except in the case of four positions at the lowest level where, because of the nature of the workload, it was felt that the full recommended amount should be paid.

All other positions of special responsibility within Bands One and Two were paid at 50% of the recommended amount. Band Three and Four positions were paid at 75% of the recommended amount.

The Council, in the main, adopted the Panel's recommendations at the mid point of the recommended range. Councillors, however, took a prudent approach and agreed not to accept the full recommended mid range amount except in the case of four positions at the lowest level where, because of the nature of the workload, it was felt that the full recommended amount should be paid.

All other positions of special responsibility within Bands One and Two were paid at 50% of the recommended amount. Band Three and Four positions were paid at 75% of the recommended amount.

Band One

The Panel recommended that this band typically include vice chairman of a service, regulatory or scrutiny committee; chairman of a sub-committee; opposition spokesman; opposition group whip; area committee chairman or vice-chairman, etc. The Council agreed that the mid-point of the panel's recommendations should be paid but that this mid point amount should only be paid to four of the Band One positions of responsibility - this equates to £5,609.75.  It was agreed that the remaining Band One posts should only be paid 50% of the mid-point amount and this equates to £2,808.88. 

Band Two

This band was envisaged as including senior office holders such as chairmen of scrutiny committees; chairman of major regulatory committee, e.g. planning; leader of the opposition and other similar posts. The Council agreed that the mid point of the recommended range for Band Two positions be accepted. However, the Council agreed that only 50% of the recommended amount should be paid to councillors holding Band Two position of special responsibility and this equated to £10,907.64.

Band Three

This band is seen as appropriate to cabinet or executive members; deputy leader of the Council; Council leader under traditional structures. The mid-point of the recommended range was agreed by the Council. The Council also agreed to accept only 75% of the recommended amount and after inflation this gives a remuneration level of £28,516.41 for positions within this band.

The Council also agreed that the Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Planning Applications Committee be included within Band Three.

Band Four

This band only includes one position - Leader of the Council. The Council agreed that only 75% of the recommended amount would be paid to the Leader of the Council and this equates to a remuneration level of £40,829.68 for this position.

Childcare and Dependent Carers' Allowance

The Panel recommended that reimbursement could be paid through allowance schemes to those councillors who incur expenditure for the care of children or dependent relations whilst undertaking particular duties. The Panel recommended that a maximum hourly rate should be set locally and this was set at £9.26. The Panel sets out a number of conditions, which should apply. The Council agreed to follow the recommendations of the Panel and implement a scheme for childcare and dependant carers' allowance as recommended by the Panel.

Pensions

The London Councils Independent Panel recommended that allowances schemes should allow for Members Allowances to be pensionable under the Local Government Pension Scheme for all members of the Council, who met the eligibility criteria. The Council accepted this recommendation and allowances were pensionable for all eligible councillors who wished to take up this option.

Co-optees

The Council may pay allowances to formal co-opted (non-elected) members of council committees and this was included in the Scheme at £746.64 per year.  The Independent Chairman of the Standards Committee receives £1,531.38 per year in recognition of the demands of this particular role. 
Adoption and Fostering Panels

The Council sets aside a fund of £4,400 per annum for those elected Members who serve on Adoption and Fostering Panels through the year.  This is apportioned across the appointed Members. 

Allowance rates 2011-12 and allowances paid 2010-11

• Allowances paid in 2010-11
• Allowance Rates 2011-12

More information

The Members' Allowances Scheme for 2011-12 are available for inspection at: 

Monday to Friday excluding Bank Holidays between 9am and 5pm.

In addition, a committee report setting out the amounts paid to each councillor in the previous year (1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011) is also available for inspection.