The Council, pursuant to section 18 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) Regulations 1991, the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 1995, the Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2001 and the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, has made the following Scheme.
Before the beginning of each municipal year, the Council must adopt the Scheme and confirm the allowances payable for the following year.
As soon as practicable after making the Scheme, or any subsequent amendment, arrangements shall be made to publish its details within the Council's area.
The Scheme provides for an annual adjustment of allowances by reference to the officer annual percentage pay increase, which will be implemented with effect from 1 April each year. However, the Council cannot rely on that annual adjustment for longer than a period of four years before seeking a further recommendation from the Independent Remuneration Panel on the application of an index to the Scheme.
As soon as practicable after the end of each year an annual report of the total payments made to each Member under the Scheme in respect of each category of allowance shall be made and published within the Council's area.
Interpretation
1. In this scheme:
- “councillor” means an elected member of the Chorley Borough Council
- “year” means the 12 months ending on 31 March
Basic Allowance
2. Subject to paragraph 8, a Basic Allowance of £5,628.02 for the year shall be paid to each councillor.
3. The Basic Allowance is provided to recognise and compensate the time commitment of Members, including calls on their time such as attending Council and other formal meetings, training/briefings, civic events, undertaking general constituency work and covering incidental costs such as the use of their homes, stationery, telephone, IT equipment, room/hall rental for community meetings, travel within their ward and the provision of general consumables.
Special Responsibility Allowances
4. Where Members of the Council are divided into at least two political groups and a majority of councillors belong to the same political group (“the controlling group”), a Special Responsibility Allowance shall be paid to at least one person who is not a member of the controlling group and who is either the Leader, Deputy Leader or a committee spokesperson for the minority group (as required by the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003).
5. If a councillor is also a Member of another authority, that councillor may not receive allowances from more than one authority in respect of the same duties.
6. Subject to paragraphs 5 and 8, for each year a Special Responsibility Allowance shall be paid to those councillors who hold the special responsibilities in relation to the Council that are specified in the table below.
|
A payment is made for each Special Responsibility position held |
Annual Amount of 2024-25 Allowance |
|---|---|
| Executive Leader (1) | £16,990.66 |
| Deputy Executive Leader (1) | £5,260.79 |
| Executive Member (7) | £5,630.61 |
| Deputy Portfolio Holder (7) | £1,877.34 |
| Member Responsible (3) | £938.67 |
| Council Champion (6) | £413.23 |
| Chair of DC/Chair of Licensing (2 | £3,811.16 |
| Vice Chair of DC/Vice Chair of Licensing (2) | £1,877.34 |
| Leader Opposition (1) | £8,720.47 |
| Deputy Leader large opposition group (2) | £2,453.26 |
| Leader medium opposition group (0) | £2,453.26 |
| Leader small opposition group (1) | £1,226.63 |
| Chair of Overview & Scrutiny Committee (1) | £5,630.61 |
| Vice Chair of Overview & Scrutiny Committee (1) | £1,877.34 |
| Overview & Scrutiny Committee Task Group Chair (4) | £413.23 |
| Chair of Audit and Governance Committee (1) | £3,811.16 |
| Vice Chair of Audit and Governance Committee (1) | £1,877.34 |
| Lead Member (3) | £1,877.34 |
| Equality Forum (not Exec Member) (1) | £18,77.34 |
| Independent Person (2) | £663.65 |
Attendance Allowances
7. No payments shall be made to councillors as attendance allowances or in the nature of attendance allowance under section 175 of the Local Government Act 1972 (conferences, etc).
Renunciation
8. A councillor may by notice in writing given to the Chief Executive of the Council elect to forego any part of their entitlement to an allowance under this scheme.
Part-Year Entitlements
9. Payment will be made in monthly instalments and apportioned during the year, where appropriate. If a councillor becomes entitled to any allowance part way through the year, they are entitled to the relevant proportion of that allowance from the date of entitlement (which will normally be the date of appointment to a role with a Special Responsibility Allowance attached).
Suspension of Allowances
10. The right to basic allowance, special responsibility allowance and travel and subsistence allowance will be removed whilst a councillor is suspended from the Council.
11. Whilst a councillor is partially suspended from the Council, the right to a special responsibility allowance and travel and subsistence will be removed in respect of duties and responsibilities from which the Councillor is suspended.
Equipment and Stationery
12. All councillors are offered IT equipment and stationery suitable for their needs