Merton - Councillors' Members' Allowances Scheme for 2026/27

PUBLIC NOTICE

LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON

MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES – SCHEME OF ALLOWANCES FOR THE REMUNERATION OF COUNCILLORS IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON

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

The Council on 25 February 2026 agreed to re-adopt its scheme of member allowances for the year 2026/27 and in doing so gave due regard to the recommendations made by the report of the Independent Panel on the Remuneration of Councillors in London.

Details of the London Borough of Merton’s Scheme for Members’ allowances can be found on the Council’s web site:

https://www.merton.gov.uk/council-and-local-democracy/councillors/allowances-and-expenses or may be inspected at Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, London SM4 5DX during normal opening hours.

Hannah Doody

Chief Executive

15 May 2026

The Council’s Scheme of Allowances, 2026/27

The scheme is based on the Scheme for 2025/26. No changes have been made to the allowance rates which remain at the 2025/26 levels. The basic allowances and Special Responsibility Allowances for 2026/27 will be increased in line with the annual staff pay award and will be applied and backdated to 1 April 2026 once the outcome of the staff negotiations are known.

The main elements of the scheme are the payment of a Basic Allowance of £12,708 per annum to each of the 57 Members of the Council and the payment of Special Responsibility Allowances to certain Councillors who have been appointed to particular offices by the Council:

Leader of the Council £50,835

Deputy Leader £25,419

Leader of the Opposition £25,419

Leader of the largest minority group £12,708

Leader of the next largest minority group £6,354

Cabinet Member £25,419

Chair, Overview & Scrutiny Committee £12,708

Chair, Development and Planning Applications Committee £12,708

Chair, Licensing Committee £12,708

Chair, Governance Standards and Audit Committee £4,194

Scrutiny Panel Chairs, £4,194

Mayor £12,708

Administration Whip £6,354

Deputy Leader of the Opposition £6,354

Opposition Whip £4,194

Minority Group Whip £3,177

Note that Special Responsibility Allowances are not cumulative. If more than one position attracting an SRA is held, only the highest applicable allowance will be paid.

In addition, £100 per meeting is paid to the co-opted members with voting rights on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Panel. £100 per meeting or equivalent activity is paid to the Council’s Independent Persons and the Independent Member (Audit).

Allowances and expenses payments made in 2025/26

Councillors with dependents can claim an allowance where it was necessary to pay for care to allow them to undertake council duties, such as attending official meetings.

Councillors are also entitled to expenses where they are incurred in connection with their role as a Councillor. These include travel expenses for travel outside the borough in respect of “approved duties”, including for attending learning and development.

The Council is required to make available the amounts paid to each Councillor in respect of basic, special responsibility and dependents’ allowances for the previous year.

The figures for the year 2025/26 are available for inspection at the Council’s offices during normal office hours and on the website:

https://www.merton.gov.uk/council-and-local-democracy/councillors/allowances-and-expenses