Norfolk County Council, Members Allowances Scheme Update

NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES – SCHEME OF ALLOWANCES FOR

THE REMUNERATION OF NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCILLORS

This Notice is published in accordance with Regulation 16(1) of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.

Travel and subsistence allowances for Councillors are amended annually in line with the rates for officers. In January 2024, the Council approved the Independent Remuneration Panel recommendation to amend councillor basic, special responsibility and carers’ allowances and co-optee’s allowances by an equivalent percentage to the pay award agreed by the National Joint Council for Local Authority Staff each year to 2026/27. This change has been updated in the County Council’s scheme of Members’ allowances.

Details of the scheme for members’ allowances, and the County Council’s Constitution, can be inspected at County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH during normal opening hours.

The Constitution is also available at the Norfolk County Council website – www.norfolk.gov.uk

The updated scheme is as follows:

Basic allowance

£13,190

Travel allowance

Car or van rate per mile

45p for first 10,000 miles

25p after 10,000 miles

Passenger supplement per passenger per mile for up to four passengers

5p per (passenger per mile)

Motorcycle or moped

24p per mile

Bicycle

20p per mile

Subsistence rates

Councillors are reminded that subsistence allowances can only be claimed in exceptional circumstances as set out in Part 3C, 1.5 g and these are the maximum sums reimbursable for expenses actually incurred. Claims for meals and subsistence must be supported with VAT receipts, or they will not be authorised for payment.

Day subsistence

Breakfast allowance – payable if you leave home before 7:30 a.m.

• Standard rate: £7.45

• Special rate: £9.85*

Lunch allowance – payable for absence between 12 noon and 2:30 p.m.

• Standard rate: £10.25

• Special rate: £14.85*

Tea allowance – payable for absence after 6:30 p.m.

• Standard rate: £4

• Special rate: £5

Evening meal allowance – payable for absence after 8:30 p.m.

• Standard rate: £12.70

• Special rate: £19.80*

Overnight Subsistence (24-hour period)

• London and approved conferences: £121.70

• Elsewhere: £87.45

*The special rate is payable in respect of visits to London, attendance at conferences or other exceptional duties.

Carers’ allowance

A carers’ allowance is payable at an hourly rate of the National Living Wage (£12.21) plus 20% – equates to £14.65 per hour. Subject to a limit of £4,266 per Councillor per annum.

Co-optees’ allowance

A Co-optees’ Allowance of £1,187 per annum is payable to the Independent Members of the Norfolk Police and Crime Panel.

Review of levels of allowance

Travel and subsistence allowances will be amended annually in line with the rates for officers. The levels of basic, special responsibility and carers’ allowances and co-optees’ allowance will be reviewed annually and increased by an equivalent percentage to the pay award agreed by the National Joint Council for Local Authority Staff. The indexing arrangement must next be reviewed by the Independent Remuneration Panel for 2027/28.

Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA)

This table sets out the special responsibility allowance (SRA) for each structure post listed below and shows what percentage of the Leader’s allowance each SRA amounts to.

New structure post and numbers | SRA | % of Leader allowance

• Leader of the Council | £39,579 | 100%

• Deputy Leader of the Council | £25,720 | 65%

• Cabinet Members | £19,785 | 50%

• Deputy Cabinet Members | £7,914 | 20%

• Chair of Select Committee | £7,914 | 20%

• Chair of Scrutiny Committee | £19,785 | 50%

• Leader of Political Group with 31 or more Members* | £19,785 | 50%

• Leader of Political Group with 21–30 Members* | £13,058 | 33%

• Vice-Chair of Scrutiny Committee | £5,935 | 15%

• Leader of Political Group with 9–20 Members* | £7,914 | 20%

• Deputy Leader of Political Group with 31 or more Members* | £4,946 | 25% of Group Leader SRA

• Deputy Leader of Political Group with 21–30 Members* | £3,285 | 25% of Group Leader SRA

• Deputy Leader of Political Group with 9–20 Members* | £1,978 | 25% of Group Leader SRA

• Chair of the Council | £15,828 | 40%

• Vice-Chair of Council | £2,968 | 7.5%

• Chair of Planning Regulatory | £7,914 | 20%

• Chair of Audit and Governance Committee | £7,914 | 20%

• Chair of Pensions Committee | £7,914 | 20%

• Chair of Health Overview Select Committee | £5,935 | 15%

• Member of Adoption Panel/Foster Panel | £5,935 | 15%

• Chair of Records Committee # | £3,957 | 10%

• Chair of Joint Museums Committee # | £3,957 | 10%

Opposition Spokespersons aligned to the functions reporting to the Select Committees

• £2,958 | 7.5%

Major Opposition Group (x3) | £1,978 | 5%

Second Opposition Group (x3) | £1,978 | 5%

Footnotes:

* SRAs are only payable to opposition groups that have at least nine members.

# SRAs for the Chair of the Records Committee and the Joint Museums Committee are payable only where the Chair is a County Councillor appointed to the Committee by the County Council.