Content

Resolved
 

(1)         
That having given due consideration, the following levels of
allowance be included in the 2026/2027 Members’ Allowance
Scheme:
·        
That the Basic Allowance be increased in in line with the 2026/2027
staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments
and backdated to 1 April 2026.

·        
That the current combined Special Responsibility
Allowance covering both the Chair of the Licensing Acts Committee
and Chair of the General Licensing Committee end, and separate SRAs
be introduced for the Chair of each Committee at the current
combined SRA level.
·        
That all Special Responsibility Allowances be increased in in line
with the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give
12 equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.
·        
That the co-optees allowance be increased in in line with the
2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal
payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.
·        
That the Independent Persons allowance be increased in in line with
the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12
equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026.
·        
That Dependents’ Carers’ and Childcare Allowances
remain at the current level, are paid on the
basis of the actual costs incurred up to the maximum hourly
rate set out below and to a maximum cap of 40 hours per month,
subject to production of receipts and cannot be paid to a member of
the claimant’s household:
o  
Childcare: £10 per hour
o  
Dependent Relative care - £20 per hour
·        
That mileage remain at the current level in line
with HMRC approved mileage rates, and if any adjustments are
implemented by HMRC then the revised rates should be applied to
Members’ travel allowances effective from the date of
implementation by HMRC.
o  
Bicycles: 20p per mile
o  
Motorcycles (any cc) – 24p per mile
o  
Motor Vehicles (any cc) – 45p per mile
o  
Electric or similar specialised vehicles – 45p per mile

·        
That the rates for subsistence allowance remain at
the current level in line with the maximum staff subsistence
levels, with claims permitted on approved duties of over 5 hours
outside the district*, subject to the submission of receipts
(*subsistence allowances cannot be claimed for any duties within
the district as the basic allowance is deemed to cover all within
district expenses).
o  
Breakfast: £7.50
o  
Lunch: £10.50
o  
Tea / coffee: £4.00
o  
Evening Meal: £12.50
·        
That Democratic Services continue to book overnight accommodation
if required.
·        
That there be no change to the list of approved duties for which
claims may be made.
·        
That Non-Executive Director allowances be increased in in line with
the 2026/2027 staff pay award, when agreed, rounded up to give 12
equal payments and backdated to 1 April 2026 and costs recharged to
the relevant company.
 

(2)         
That the Assistant Director Law and Governance be authorised to
prepare an amended Members’ Allowances Scheme, in accordance
with the decisions of Council for implementation with effect from 1
April 2026. 
 

(3)         
That the Assistant Director of Law and Governance be authorised to
take all necessary action to revoke the current (2025/2026) Scheme
and to publicise the revised Scheme pursuant to The Local
Authorities (Member’s Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003
(as amended). 
 

(4)         
That the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) be thanked for its
report and a fee of £300 be confirmed for each Panel Member
for the work carried out on this review and authority be delegated
to the Assistant Director Law & Governance to apply the same
final percentage increase to the IRP member fee, in line with the
staff pay award (when agreed), for any reviews carried out in
2026/2027.