Rutland County Council Sets 2026-27 Member Allowances: 3% Pay Rise
Rutland County Council has unveiled its proposed Member Allowances Scheme for the 2026-27 municipal year. The report, spearheaded by Deputy Leader Councillor A. Johnson, confirms that while the structure of payments remains stable, councillors are set for an automatic pay increase indexed to senior officer salary awards.
The move comes as officials admit that Rutland’s councillor pay has historically lagged behind neighbouring authorities. To ensure financial stability, the council has already factored a 3% increase into its Medium-Term Financial Plan, matching the assumptions made for staff pay.
One Councillor voted against the increase, Kiloran Heckels Conservative.
The Basic Allowance, What Every Councillor Receives
Under the new scheme, every elected member is entitled to a Basic Allowance of £5,244.97.
This sum is designed to cover the time spent on ordinary duties and ward work. While it excludes travel and subsistence, the Council also provides equipment, such as a dedicated council email address and ICT support, to help members conduct official business.
Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA)
For those stepping into leadership roles or chairing influential committees, the Council provides additional "Special Responsibility Allowances." These are calculated as a "factor" of the Basic Allowance.
Crucially, a councillor may only claim one SRA, even if they hold multiple qualifying positions.
Per-Meeting Payments
For smaller committees that meet less frequently, the Council opts for a "pay-as-you-go" model:
Chair of Conduct Committee: £131 per meeting.
Chair of Employment & Appeals: £131 per meeting.
Extra Allowances and Expenses
Beyond the headline salaries, councillors can reclaim costs incurred while performing "approved duties," which include committee meetings, site visits, and formal training.
1. Travel and Transport
Car Mileage: 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles (25p thereafter).
Passenger Bonus: An extra 5p per mile for every fellow councillor carried as a passenger.
Taxis: Only permitted in cases of "urgency" or where no public transport exists.
2. Subsistence (Meals and Overnights)
If a councillor is away from home for more than four hours and no meal is provided, they can claim:
Breakfast: £5.00 (if leaving before 6 AM).
One Meal (5+ hours away): £5.00.
Two Meals (10+ hours away): £10.00.
Overnight Stays: The Council typically books and pays for "market rate" hotels directly for conferences.
3. Child and Dependent Carer’s Allowance
In a bid to encourage a more diverse range of candidates, the scheme allows members to claim back "actual, reasonable costs" for childminders or sitters used while the councillor is on official business.
Administrative Shake-up
A notable change in this year’s report is the expansion of officers authorised to approve these expenses. Due to the upcoming departure of the Democratic Services Manager, the Scrutiny Officer and Head of Legal and Democratic Services have been added to the approval list to ensure "greater resilience" in processing member claims.
As per legal requirements, the full list of total sums paid to each councillor will be published at the end of the financial year for public inspection.
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