Cherwell District Council - Members Allowances (Expenses) 2025/2026
What is happening?
CHERWELL DISTRICT COUNCIL
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 2000 – MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Cherwell District Council has agreed a revised scheme for the payment of various allowances and expenses for the 2025/2026 municipal year pursuant to the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended).
It was agreed by Council on 24 February 2025 that the following amendments be made to the Members’ Allowance Scheme:
a) The Basic Allowance be increased in line with the 2025/2026 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2025.
b) All Special Responsibility Allowances be increased in line with the 2025/2026 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2025.
c) The co-optees allowance be increased in line with the 2025/2026 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2025.
d) The Independent Persons allowance be increased in line with the 2025/2026 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2025.
e) Dependants’ Carers’ and Childcare Allowances remain at the current level, are paid on the basis of the actual costs incurred up to the maximum hourly rate set out below and to a maximum cap of 40 hours per month, subject to production of receipts and cannot be paid to a member of the claimant’s household: Childcare: £10 per hour; Dependent Relative care–£20 per hour.
f) Mileage remain at the current level in line with HMRC approved mileage rates, and if any adjustments are implemented by HMRC then the revised rates should be applied to Members’ travel allowances effective from the date of implementation by HMRC.
g) That, having regard to the detailed review of staff subsistence, the rates for subsistence allowance be aligned with the revised maximum staff subsistence levels, with claims permitted on approved duties of over 5 hours outside the district* subject to the submission of receipts (*subsistence allowances cannot be claimed for any duties within the district as the basic allowance is deemed to cover all within district expenses): Breakfast: £7.50; Lunch: £10.50; Tea/coffee: £4.00; Evening Meal: £12.50.
h) Democratic Services continue to book overnight accommodation if required.
i) No change to the list of approved duties for which claims may be made.
j) Non-Executive Director allowances be increased in line with the 2025/2026 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2025 and costs recharged to the relevant company.
k) An in-depth “root and branches” review of the Members’ Allowance Scheme be undertaken with implementation to be determined when further information on local government reorganisation, devolution and the Cherwell boundary review is known.
| Current level 2024/2025 |
3.5% increase for 2025/2026 |
|
| Basic Allowance | £5040 pa | £5220 pa |
| Chairman of the Council | £5040 pa | £5220 pa |
| Leader of the Council | £16,032 pa | £16,596 pa |
| Deputy Leader of the Council | £10,344 pa | £10,716 pa |
| Executive Members Holding a Portfolio | £7476 pa | £7740 |
| Minority Opposition Leader (6 or more members) |
50% Leader of the Opposition SRA |
50% Leader of the Opposition SRA |
| Minority Opposition Leader (2-5 members) | 25% Leader of the Opposition SRA |
25% Leader of the Opposition SRA |
| Chairman, Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee |
£4164 pa | £4320 pa |
| Chairman, Appeals Panel | £300 SRA plus £300 per meeting to a capped limit of £1800 pa |
£312 SRA plus £312 per meeting to a capped limit of £1872 pa |
| Chairman, Budget Planning Committee | £4164 pa | £4320 pa |
| Chairman, Licensing Committee | £888 pa | £924 pa |
| Chairman, Overview and Scrutiny Committee |
£4164 pa | £4320 pa |
| Chairman, Personnel Committee | £1488 pa | £1548 pa |
| Chairman, Planning Committee | £4980 pa | £5160 pa |
| Chairman, Standards Committee | £888 pa | £924 pa |
| Co-optee Allowance | £864 pa | £900 pa |
| Independent Persons Allowance | £864 pa | £900 pa |
| Non-Executive Directors Graven Hill Village Holding Company Limited |
£4980 pa | £5160 pa |
Copies of the Panel’s report are available for inspection, by appointment, at the Council’s Offices at 39 Castle Quay, Banbury,OC16 5FD between 9.00am and 5.15pm, Monday to Friday and on the council website www.cherwell.gov.uk.
The Panel’s report is available to purchase at a cost of £3.00 on request to Democratic Services, by writing to the Services address below or telephoning 01295 221534. Alternatively, the Panel’s report is also available electronically and can be e-mailed upon written request to democracy@ cherwell-dc.gov.uk. There is no charge for an e-mailed version of the report.
Gordon Stewart, Chief Executive, Cherwell District Council, 39 Castle Quay, Banbury OX16 5FD.
Dated: 3 April 2025
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