Councillors' allowances

12.08.29pm GMT Mon 29th Jan 2007

Changes in Councillors' allowances in Richmond upon Thames are being recommended following a review by an independent panel.

The panel is recommending no change to the basic annual allowance of £9,415 which every Councillor receives. This is in line with the London boroughs' average.

However, increases are proposed in some of the further special responsibility allowances while is it proposed that others should be deleted.

No change is recommended in the extra allowance of £10,000 every Cabinet Member receives, although it is proposed that the Council Leader, Deputy Leader, and Leader of the Opposition get an increase.

Under the Panel's proposals the special allowance for the Council Leader would go up from £20,000 to £25,000, rising to the present London average of £35,000 by 2010.

The extra allowance received by the Deputy Leader would rise from £15,000 to £16,000, although this is an interim recommendation as a fuller review of all allowances, and the basis for them, is needed, say the panel.

The special allowance received by the Leader of the Opposition would rise from £10,000 to £16,000.

The panel also recommends that there should be job descriptions, including time commitments, for all Council Members and co-optees.

The panel has discussed allowances for Councillors at a number of meetings since it was set up last summer.

Chairman of the panel is retired businessman Nick Tarsh. The other members are Labour life peer, Baroness Jenny Hilton, and the Managing Editor of the Richmond and Twickenham Times, Jo Gumb.

Mr Tarsh said:

"We have discussed this matter in-depth, taking into account the allowances paid across the capital, representations from Council members and the public, and the special considerations relating to Richmond upon Thames.

"It is right that democratically-elected members receive allowances which reflect their role, the amount of time they give to their Council duties and the level of responsibility they have.

"However, we feel that detailed job descriptions, including time commitments, should be drawn up for all specially remunerated posts as well as those covered by the basic allowance.

"We recommend that there should be another review of allowances in time for the 2008 budget, taking into account the job descriptions and the Council's views as to the basis of paying allowances."

The panel's recommendations will go to the Council meeting on April 24 when they will be considered in detail and Councillors will decide whether to accept them.

A copy of the panel's report can be accessed at: www.richmond.gov.uk/councillors_allowances