Horsham Area - Members’ Allowances

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 amended its Councillors’ Allowances
Scheme (‘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 23 February 2026, in accordance with regulation 19(1) of the Regulations, and it was resolved to amend
the Scheme accordingly.
A further report of the IRP was made in accordance with regulation 21 of the Regulations. Recommendations
in that report was considered by members at a Council meeting on 15 April 2026, 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 Special Responsibility Allowance (‘SRA’) for the Chair of the Unparished Area Committee and the
co-optees’ allowance payable to Neighbourhood Council Representatives be removed from the Scheme,
should the Unparished Area Committee be dissolved.
• The Chair of the Finance and Performance Policy and Scrutiny Committee maintains the current SRA
of £6,222.61.
• The Chair of the Communities and Place Policy and Scrutiny Committee receives an SRA of two thirds
of that of the Chair of the Finance and Performance Policy and Scrutiny Committee (currently £4,148.41).
• The Vice-Chairs of the Policy and Scrutiny Committees receive an SRA of one third of the respective
Chair’s SRA.
• Members who sit on a Licensing Sub-Committee (excluding the Chair(s) of the Licensing Committees)
receive a per meeting SRA of £51.60.
• Where a political group appoints two group leaders, the SRA stated in the Scheme be split equally
between the two.
• The Scheme be updated to reflect councillors’ eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme,
if and when the relevant statutory provisions come into force.
The other main features of the Scheme, which remain unchanged, are:
Basic Allowance (per annum) £7,003.15
Special Responsibility Allowances (per annum)
Leader of the Council £19,258.15
Deputy Leader of the Council £10,458.86
Leader of each Minority Group with three or more Councillors £258.00 per Councillor
Cabinet Member £8,537.07
Chairman of the Council £6,222.61
Vice-Chairman of the Council £2,085.90
Chairman of Planning Committee £7,224.00
Vice-Chairman of Planning Committee £2,407.66
Chairman of Audit Committee £2,970.65
Chairman of Licensing Committee (Alcohol and Entertainment) £1,485.33
Chairman of Licensing Committee (Taxi and General) £1,485.33
Chairman of Governance Committee £2,970.65
Chairman of Standards Committee £2,970.65
Members and substitute members of the Planning Committee
(excluding the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the attended Planning Committee) £51.60 per meeting
Representatives on Outside Bodies £56.76 per meeting attended
Co-optees’ Allowances (per annum)
Independent Member on Audit Committee £853.09
Independent Persons on Standards Committee £1,604.18 each
Parish Representative on Standards Committee £516.00
Dependants’ carers’ allowance remains unchanged at the same rate as the national living wage for childcare
and at the Homecare Association annual rate for specialist dependant care.
Travelling and subsistence allowance rates remain unchanged as follows:
Travelling
Car or van - the HMRC rate (changed from 6 April 2026) 55p per mile
Motorcycle - the HMRC rate 24p per mile
Bicycle - the HMRC rate 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 allowance and co-optees’ allowance will be varied
with effect from and in accordance with the same percentage change in the levels of the Council’s
staff remuneration 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.
Jane Eaton, Chief Executive
Horsham District Council, Albery House, Springfield Road, Horsham RH12 2GB
Telephone: 01403 215100

www.horsham.gov.uk