Lincolnshire - Scheme Of Elected Members Allowances 2026/2027

LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

SCHEME OF ELECTED MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES 2026/2027

Lincolnshire County Council has adopted a scheme of Members’ Allowances in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003. 

Councillors agreed the scheme at the Council meeting on 20 February 2026, having regard to recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), whose members have no connection with the County Council. The scheme took effect from 1 April 2026.

The IRP had recommended that councillors’ basic allowance be increased from £12,461.20 to £14,000 to avoid this allowance slipping further behind the average in the list of comparable local authorities. Council voted against this increase as well as a recommended inflationary increase for the rest of the allowances, for the 2026-27 scheme. 

Other changes recommended included the introduction of a special responsibility allowance for the Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Panel in Band 9 of the scheme and the removal of SRAs for the Chairman of the former Councillor Development Group and Chairmen and Vice-chairmen of the former Scrutiny Panels. These changes were agreed by Council, who also voted in favour of an increase in the SRA of Executive Support Councillors (from Band 7 to Band 4).

There is no power to pay an attendance allowance to members.

There are three types of elected members allowances in this scheme, the basic allowance, the special responsibility allowance and the childcare and dependants’ carers’ allowance.

Claims must be made within two months of the duty for which the claim is made. 

A member may elect to forego any or all of their entitlement to any allowance under the scheme. Election must be made by written notice to the Head of Democratic Services and will continue until amended by a further notice.

Annual increases
The County Council has resolved to exercise the power available to it under the 2003 Regulations to increase allowances annually in line with the movement in an appropriate index. The index to be applied is the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the four-year period up to April 2030, unless the Council resolves otherwise. (The 2003 Regulations allow indexing for a maximum of four years, but also require that Council votes to adopt a Scheme of Members’ Allowances each year).

Co-opted Members Allowance
The County Council has resolved to exercise the power available to it under the 2003 Regulations to pay a co-optee’s allowance in respect of the attendance of individuals co-opted onto committees, subcommittees and working groups.

Responsibilities and allowances within bands 1-10 in the table below are ‘Special Responsibility Allowances’

In the event of one councilor holding more than one specified post, only one Special Responsibility Allowance shall be paid.

Travel & Subsistence
Vehicle mileage rates
Reimbursement for vehicle mileage will be in accordance with HMRC’s published mileage rates.

Public Transport
Travel by public transport should be made at the lowest rate available for the journey(s) in question. Air travel, foreign travel and, in exceptional cases, travel at rates higher than lowest available fares should be approved in advance by the Head of Democratic Services.

Travel costs will be reimbursed at the actual cost incurred with claims supported by receipts.
Members are encouraged to order tickets for travel by public transport through their administrative support, who will use the County Council’s defined travel procurement arrangements to secure good value for money that will normally be paid direct by the County Council.

Private Vehicles
Rates payable for travel by a private vehicle used by a Member and for official passengers will be those equivalent to HM Revenue & Customs Approved Mileage Rates for the time being. Rates and changes in rates will be notified to Members.

Members are responsible for ensuring that private vehicles used by them comply with all relevant legislation for the purposes for which they are used including safety, taxation and insurance.

Taxis
In cases of urgency, or where no public transport is reasonably available, Members may travel by taxi and claim the amount of the actual cost incurred, supported by receipts.

General Travel Expenses 
Parking, tolls and ferries will be reimbursed at the actual cost incurred with claims supported by receipts.

Subsistence Expenses
In cases where the County Council provides a meal no other meal allowance will be paid. On County Council meeting days where members are provided with a lunch they will consequently not be entitled to claim subsistence expenses.

Where a member incurs costs of meals whilst undertaking approved duties subsistence expenses are claimable.

Claims must be for actual costs incurred supported by receipts.

Overnight accommodation should be booked in advance on behalf of the Member by their administrative support using the County Council’s standard procurement arrangements to secure best value for money that will normally be paid direct by the County Council.

In cases where a Member incurs reasonable costs for overnight accommodation, it will be reimbursed at actual cost incurred with claims supported by receipts.

The Scheme can be viewed on the Council’s website in Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution. 

Detailed records of payments made may be inspected free of charge during normal office hours at the address below. 

The records are also available at http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk – just search for councillor allowances.

Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL
Tel: 01522 552840

Email: democraticservices@lincolnshire.gov.uk