Members allowances to rise for first time in four years
Councillors hope a rise in allowances will open the door to a wider group of people being able to represent their local communities.
Vale of White Horse District Council has agreed to a rise in councillor allowances for the first time in four years, following recommendations from an independent panel.
However, councillors have agreed that their final allowance total should be less than recommended, as councillors believe that 40 per cent of their time should be recognised as “public service” rather than 33 per cent as was recommended.
An independent panel, made up of members of the local community, put forward a recommendation for a basic councillors’ allowance following a review of the allowances in the district.
The scheme was last reviewed in the Vale of White Horse in 2020 and implemented in April 2021.
At the Council meeting on 18 December, members considered the recommendations of a Joint Independent Remuneration Panel and agreed to apply the revised allowance scheme based on a basic allowance value of £7,514 from 1 April 2025.
Cllr Bethia Thomas, Leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “The aim of councillor allowances is to enable as many people from across our community – from diverse backgrounds, to stand as representatives – regardless of their personal means or circumstance. By offering a fair amount, as set out by this independent panel, we hope to encourage a range of voices – not just those who are comfortably in a position to sacrifice time and money.
“Being a councillor is no small undertaking – for many it requires a significant amount of time and involvement – which could exclude those juggle caring needs, for example. Having a broad range of representatives from all walks of life is vital to the running of an efficient and effective council.”
The panel noted in its report it wished to ensure the level of basic allowance does not constitute a barrier to candidates from all sections of the community standing, or re-standing, for election as councillors.
The panel also noted that whilst with the increase Vale would be slightly above average compared to other Oxfordshire councils, in a review of the basic allowances paid by 27 similarly sized district councils in the south of England, the district was in the bottom half of the range.
Cllr Thomas added: “I’d like to thank the thanks the members of the independent panel for their efforts in reviewing Vale’s allowances.”
The independent panel’s report was considered at a Council meeting on 18 December 2024, the reports and recommendations are available on the council’s website here.
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Notes to editors
District councillors receive an allowance to support them in their duties. Councils are required by law to appoint an independent panel to review the allowances scheme.
The Independent Councillors’ Commission states: “The basic allowance should encourage people from a wide range of backgrounds and with a wide range of skills to serve as local councillors. Those who participate in and contribute to the democratic process should not suffer unreasonable financial disadvantage as a result of doing so.”
The independent panel’s report was considered at a Council meeting on 12 December 2024, the reports and recommendations are available on the council’s website here.
