Horsham Area - Members Allowances

HORSHAM DISTRICT COUNCIL
LOCAL AUTHORITIES (MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2003

Notice is given pursuant to regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (‘the Regulations’) that Horsham District Council (‘the Council’) has (i) made a new Members’ Allowances Scheme (‘the Scheme’) and (ii) has amended the Scheme.
A report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (‘IRP’) was made in accordance with regulation 21 of the Regulations. Recommendations in that report were considered by members at a Council meeting on 24 February 2025, in accordance with regulation 19(1) of the Regulations, and it was resolved to make the Scheme accordingly.
Three further reports of the IRP were made in accordance with regulation 21 of the Regulations. Recommendations in those reports were considered by members at a Council meeting on 2 April 2025, in accordance with regulation 19(1) of the Regulations, and it was resolved to amend the Scheme accordingly.
The main features of the IRP’s recommendations and the recommended amounts of each allowance mentioned in its reports are as follows:
The Basic Allowance to be increased to £6,786
The Leader’s Special Responsibility Allowance (‘SRA’) to be increased to £18,661
A £250 ‘per member’ SRA to be provided to the Leaders of all Minority Groups
The policy of one SRA per member to be adopted (with some exceptions)
The Chairman of the Unparished Area Committee to receive an SRA of £2,878.54
The co-opted neighbourhood council representatives on the Unparished Area Committee to receive an allowance of £500
A list of approved external bodies attracting an allowance for attendance to be agreed and made available to members
The allowance for childcare to be set at the rate of the National Living Wage (£12.21 from April 2025)
The allowance for specialist dependant care to be set at the Homecare Association annual rate (£32.14 from April 2025)
The co-opted parish representatives on the Standards Committee to receive an allowance of £500
To establish a maternity and adoption policy for members based on national standards
The Chairmen of the Licensing Committees to receive an SRA of £1,439.27
The Chairman of the Planning Committee to receive an SRA of £7,000, and the Vice-Chairman to receive an SRA of £2,333
A ‘per meeting’ SRA of £50 to be paid to members or substitute members who attend each Planning Committee meeting
The Chairman of the Finance and Performance Policy and Scrutiny Committee to receive an SRA of £6,029.66, and the Vice-Chairman to receive an SRA of £2,015.59
The Chairman of the Communities and Place Policy and Scrutiny Committee to receive an SRA of £2,878.54
The other main features of the Scheme, which remain unchanged, are:
Special Responsibility Allowances (per annum)
Deputy Leader of the Council £10,134.55
Cabinet Member £8,272.35
Chairman of the Council £6,029.66
Vice-Chairman of the Council £2,021.22
Chairman of Audit Committee £2,878.54
Chairman of Governance Committee £2,878.54
Chairman of Standards Committee £2,878.54
Co-opted Independent Member on Audit Committee £826.64
Co-opted Independent Persons on Standards Committee £1,554.44 each
Representatives on Outside Bodies £55.00 per meeting
Travelling and subsistence rates remain unchanged as follows:
Travelling
Cars and vans - the HMRC rate 45p per mile
Motorcycles 24p per mile
Bicycles 20p per mile
Use of public transport will be paid at the second class rail fare and/or bus fare.
Subsistence
Breakfast £6.45
Lunch £8.91
Tea £3.53
Dinner £11.03
Travelling and subsistence allowances may be paid in respect of the statutory approved duties specified in regulation 8(1)(a) - (f) of the Regulations and other approved duties in accordance with regulation 8(1)(h) of the Regulations as identified in the Scheme.
The levels of basic allowance, special responsibility allowances, dependants’ carers’ allowance and co-optees’ allowance will be increased annually in line with the percentage increase in Horsham District Council staff salaries until 2029 (at which time the Scheme will be reviewed again by an IRP), subject to recommendations made as part of any interim review that may take place.
Copies of the Scheme and a record of payments made thereunder are available for inspection at the Council Offices during normal office hours. Any person wishing to inspect, or obtain a copy, of these documents should contact Democratic Services, Horsham District Council, Albery House, Springfield Road, Horsham, RH12 2GB.