Commission on the role of local councillors

Welcome to our forum. We’re still getting a terrific response and the comments we have received are being fed into discussions at meetings of the Commission. Please keep them coming.

Our question this month is: “Should councillors be better paid, and why?”

All principal local authorities (Counties, districts, boroughs) must pay their members a basic allowance. Councils may, if they choose, pay allowances for special responsibilities, travel and subsistence, care for dependents, and co-optees. It is for local authorities to decide the levels of all the categories of allowance they pay. The Government publishes no guidance on this.

Basic allowance is paid at the same level for all members, which is intended to cover the time commitment of councillors and incidental costs such as the use of their homes. It is not related to the actual level of commitment by the councillor, other than that a member need only attend a meeting once every six months to remain qualified and thus eligible for basic allowance.

From your posts so far it is clear that the issue of money is an important one. Are you in full-time employment and would like to become a councillor, but can’t afford to give your time? As a full-time councillor, are you rewarded appropriately for the hours you put in? On the other hand, do you believe that ‘professionalising’ the role of councillor would demean the value of public service? Would it encourage people with the ‘wrong’ motivations to stand for election?

These are big questions, which the commission is looking at and we would be very interested to hear your views.
We’d like to hear too from people who have been councillors in the past: was money an issue? Would a different system of remuneration tempt you to throw your hat back in the ring?

It’s a fascinating area and I’m sure you’ll have lots to say, so please sign up to the forum and let us have your views.

Thank you for taking part.

Dr Jane Roberts DBE
Chair