Sunderland City Area - Member Allowance Notices

Sunderland City Council
This Notice is published in accordance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003

At its meeting on 20 March 2024 the Council considered recommendations from its Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of the Allowances Scheme for 2024/2025. The Panel recommended that no change be made to the terms of the Scheme at this time. The main provisions of the Scheme adopted for 2024/2025 are summarised below.     

Type of Allowance
Amount per annum £
Basic Allowance
8369
Special Responsibility Allowances

Leader of the Council
37,667
Deputy Leader of the Council
25,111
Cabinet Secretary
25,111
Cabinet Member with Portfolio
20,716
Deputy Cabinet Member
12556
Leader of the Majority Group in Opposition - allowance calculated as a percentage of Leader’s SRA, up to maximum of 25%.

Leader of the second largest Group in Opposition – allowance calculated as a percentage of the Majority Opposition Group Leader’s allowance, up to a maximum of 50%
Chair of the following:

Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee
12,556
Thematic Scrutiny Committee
5,179
Area Committee
10,350
Licensing and Regulatory Committee
8,369
Planning and Highways Committee
8,369


Vice Chair of the following:

Area Committee
6,277
Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee
6,277
Licensing and Regulatory Committee
4,184
Planning and Highways Committee
4,184

Co-optees’ Allowances

Audit and Governance Committee

Chairman
5,000
Independent member
2500

Mayoral
Mayoral Allowance
Deputy Mayoral
12,000
6,000

Carer’s allowance
Actual expenditure up to a maximum of the equivalent of the current National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage hourly rate, as appropriate, dependent upon the age of the worker. The rate applicable shall be subject to automatic increases in line with uprating of the Adult National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage.


Travel Allowances (for elected members and co-optees)

Motor Cycle allowance
24p per mile
Bicycle Allowance
20p per mile
Car Allowance
45p per mile for first 10,000 mile and 25p thereafter
Passenger Supplement 5p per mile for the passenger (not exceeding 4)

The above rates match His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs authorised mileage rates and will be updated when HMRC publishes revised allowances


Subsistence Allowances (for elected members and co-optees)
In the case of absence from the usual place of residence for a continuous period which exceeds 4 hours but does not involve an overnight absence, subsistence is payable as per the table set out below:
Breakfast Allowance
£6.22
Lunch Allowance
£8.55
Tea Allowance
£3.37
Evening Meal Allowance
£10.59

Overnight Accommodation

The allowance will not be claimable as an allowance as such, rather reasonable costs of an overnight stay (including breakfast) will be met for business class accommodation (3 star or 4 star) within and outside of London. Unless there are exceptional circumstances the Council will book the accommodation direct selecting the most economic option available and utilising the established procurement arrangements in place. Where exceptional circumstances exist, these will be approved in advance by the Director of Finance and reasonable costs will be reimbursed subject to submission of receipts.

Grant payable for Use of Rooms or Halls for Ward Surgeries
£15 maximum per occasion


Telephone Calls Allowance
£15 per quarter


Broadband – actual costs to be reimbursed up to a maximum of £15 per month with a contribution from each Member of £3 per month where private use is made of the facility.

Copies of the Panel’s report can be inspected at City Hall, Plater Way, Sunderland SR1 3AA (the Council’s principal office) during office hours and can also be viewed on the Council’s website www.sunderland.gov.uk.
Copies are available free of charge.

The Council is required to make available the amounts paid to each Councillor in respect of certain allowances for the previous year. The figures for the year 2023/2024 will be available for inspection at City Hall and on the Council’s website by 1 May 2024.

Patrick Melia
Chief Executive
Sunderland City Council 22 April 2024