Councillors vote for £400 rise in basic allowances

Councillors in Barnsley have voted to increase their basic allowance by about £400 for the upcoming financial year.

It comes after concerns were raised that councillors' pay had been static since 2021, which, taking into account high inflation, was effectively a pay cut, they said.

As a result of the vote, councillors will receive a basic allowance of £12,237 per year - an increase of £414 from £11,823 - to cover costs associated with their role.

An Independent Remuneration Panel had originally suggested a freeze to the basic allowance for the upcoming year, citing concerns over public perception of a significant pay increase.

However, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the panel had considered feedback from councillors and acknowledged the need for an increase.

As a result, the panel recommended a rise in allowances across several areas, including in the basic allowance and special responsibility allowances.

The rise, backdated to 1 April, is 2.5%, which is in line with the rise for staff as agreed by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services, plus 1%.

This will result in a total cost of approximately £770,931 for councillors' basic allowances in 2024-25 – an extra £52,006.

Meanwhile, travel allowances will rise by 25%, reflecting cost increases due to inflation.

In North Yorkshire, councillors received £15,550 in basic allowances in 2023-24, with an independent panel recommending a rise to £17,000 for 2024-25.

In Wakefield, councillors voted last month to freeze their allowances, with council leader Denise Jeffery saying they should not take a rise while residents were struggling with the cost of living.

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