Elected Members (Councillors) of an Authority are entitled under the Members’ Allowances scheme to receive remuneration for the duties they perform. This scheme is set out in the Constitution of the Council.

The scheme is governed by the Local Government & Housing Act, 1989, as amended and the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations, 2003. All Councillors are entitled to a basic allowance to cover their democratic duties, some Councillors also receive a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) reflecting the level of their additional duties (see the table below). Councillors who hold more than one post are only entitled to claim the SRA with the greatest value. In appropriate circumstances, Councillors can claim an allowance towards carers costs, travelling and subsistence costs when carrying out certain duties outside the Borough.

At its meeting on 26 May 2011, the Council agreed amendments to its Members’ Allowances scheme, which took effect from that date.

In agreeing its scheme, the Council took into consideration the latest recommendations of the London Council’s Independent Panel on Members’ Allowances published in May 2010. It was also agreed that the Leader of a Third Party, would only receive a SRA when that group had five or more Members

The following table sets out the current rates of Members’ Allowances for the Municipal Year, 2011/12. Also set out are payments made to individual Members in the financial year 2008/09. The figures reflect that some Councillors did not hold office for a full year.

Members allowances, May 2011-May 2012
Allowance Amount (£) Payable to
Basic allowance 10,000 All members in addition to Special Responsibility Allowance if applicable
Special responsibility allowance 40,000 Leader of the Council
  21,000 Cabinet Members x 7
  16,000 Leader of the Opposition Party; Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee
  8,000 Junior Cabinet Members, Chair of Planning Committee, Chair of Licensing Committee, Vice-Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee, Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Management sub-committees, Council Chief Whip.
  4,000 Chair of Audit & Governance Committee, Chair of Pensions Fund Committee, Chair of Transport Liaison Consultative Group, Vice-Chair of Planning Committee, Vice-Chair of Licensing Committee, Main Opposition Chief Whip, Third Party Leader
  937 Independent Chair of Standards Committee
  456 Independent Members of Standards Committee
  684 Independent Member of Audit & Governance Committee

Members allowances, 2010-2011

Members allowances, 2009-2010

Members allowances, 2007-2009

Members payments, 2006-2008