Cherwell District, Oxfordshire - Local Government Members Allowances.

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 2026/2027 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 23 February 2026 that basic and special responsibility allowances be increased in line with the staff pay award (rounded up to give 12 equal payments), when agreed and back dated to 1 April. The staff pay award having been agreed in June 2026, the following amendments are made to the Members’ Allowance Scheme:

a)  The Basic Allowance be increased in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2026.

b)  The current combined Special Responsibility Allowance covering both the Chair of the Licensing Acts Committee and Chair of the General Licensing Committee end, and separate SRAs be introduced for the Chair of each Committee at the current combined SRA level.

c)  All Special Responsibility Allowances be increased in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2026.

d)  The co-optees allowance be increased in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2026.

e)  The Independent Persons allowance be increased in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2026.

f)   Dependent 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.

g)  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.

h)  That the rates for subsistence allowance remain at the current level in line with the 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.

i)   Democratic Services continue to book overnight accommodation if required.

j)   No change to the list of approved duties for which claims may be made.

k)  Non-Executive Director allowances be increased in line with the 2026/2027 staff pay award (3.5%), rounded up to give 12 equal payments from 1 April 2026 and costs recharged to the relevant company.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED THE DIGITAL PDF OF THE PUBLIC NOTICE WHICH CONTAINS THE ALLOWANCE DETAILS

Copies of the Panel’s report are available for inspection, by appointment, at the Council’s Offices at 39 Castle Quay, Banbury, OX16 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: 30 July 2026