COUNCILLORS in South Oxfordshire could see their allowances increased by 21 per cent under recommendations being put forward.

The basic allowance for councillors on Conservative-run South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) would jump from £2,900 to £3,500, costing a total of £126,000.

An independent remuneration panel has recommended the increase, along with a 42 per cent pay rise for the council’s leader John Cotton.

The proposal to increase allowances will be discussed at the council’s annual meeting tomorrow and, if it is approved, the allowances will be backdated to May 11.

Mr Cotton gets £10,000 a year, which was deemed “too low” by the panel, which proposed to raise it by 42 per cent to £14,280.

He said: “I haven’t thought about it. It’s not top of my priority list.

“I think it’s likely the council will vote to increase allowances. It’s been eight years since they were reviewed.”

At the May 7 election, the number of SODC councillors was cut from 48 to 36, after a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, so the panel said allowances needed to be increased to cover the new workload. SODC spokesman Gavin Walton said the new payments would be backdated to May 11 as it is the date the councillors officially started their posts.

Labour district councillor for Didcot South Margaret Davies, one of three opposition members, said: “I am certain the Conservative group will vote the increase. I will vote for it myself to cover costs.

“It is important that allowances permit people who are retired, or who have lower incomes, to contemplate being a councillor.”

The panel said in its report: “While the panel recognises that some element of a councillor’s time should be voluntary, this must be balanced against the need to ensure councillors do not suffer financial loss, that local people are encouraged to come forward as elected members, and that their service to the community is retained.

The scheme should be adjusted to take into account the reduction in the number of district councillors from May 2015 and the effect that it has on councillors’ workloads.”

Without the increase in basic allowance the council would have saved £34,800, but instead would now save just £13,200.

The report said allowances were in “urgent need of review”, with the last increase in 2007.

High-ranking councillors get extra money, known as the special responsibility allowance. Special allowances have been increased by two per cent to cover the increased cost of living since 2007.

The recommended changes mean the 2015-16 budget would have a £234,800 provision for basic allowances and £95,210 for special responsibility allowances.

Council officer Steve Culliford said: “Together the maximum cost of the proposed allowances for 2015-16, as recommended by the panel, is less than a one per cent increase on 2014-15.

“If the council adopts these recommendations, this small increase in basic and special responsibility allowances is likely to be offset by a reduction in the amount of travel, subsistence and carer’s claims in 2015-16, due to the reduction in the number of councillors.”

In March the council reduced its element of council tax bills by three per cent and has not announced cuts in frontline services.

Late last year, Oxfordshire county councillors were criticised after voting through a 19 per cent rise in their basic allowance.

The changes

OUT of Oxfordshire’s district councils, South Oxfordshire has the lowest allowance level and the last increase was in 2007.

The council works closely with Vale of White Horse District Council, which amended its allowances in April 2014.

Vale councillors claim a basic allowance of £3,984, while its leader Matt Barber receives a special allowance of £17,795.

West Oxfordshire district councillors have a basic allowance of £4,350 and refused to accept a 2.3 per cent increase in January.

Since 2013/14 Cherwell District Council pays its councillors a basic allowance of £4,155.

Oxford City Council’s basic allowance is £4,713.96.

In December Oxfordshire County Council members agreed to increase their allowances by 19 per cent with the basic allowance hitting £10,000.

Leader Ian Hudspeth’s allowance rose by another 15 per cent from £25,131 to £29,000.

Out of the 61 councillors who voted, 38 voted in favour of the increase, 20 voted against and three abstained.

South Oxfordshire district councillors are being asked to approve the following changes:

  • Basic allowance: £3,500 up from £2,900, increase of 21 per cent
  • Leader: £14,280 up from £10,000 increase of 42 per cent
  • Chairman: £5,508, up two per cent
  • Vice-chairman: £3,672, up two per cent
  • Cabinet members (3-6 members): £7,140
  • Cabinet members (7-10 members): £5,508 up from £5,400, up two per cent
  • Chairman of scrutiny committee: £4,080, up two per cent
  • Chairman of planning committee: £5,508, up two per cent
  • Chairman of audit and corporate governance committee: £2,040, up two per cent
  • Chairman of licensing acts committee: £510
  • Chairman of general licensing committee: £2,040
  • Opposition: £500 per group member