Panel proposes reducing budget while giving extra help to attract councillors

The amount of cash councillors in the newly formed West Suffolk authority will get from May has been outlined ahead of a meeting next week.

An independent report into allowances for the new West Suffolk councillors has proposed a £30,500 saving while helping people who stand for election.

Findings from the independent remuneration panel have been published ahead of next week’s West Suffolk Council shadow council meeting, outlining the recommended councillor allowance levels from May 6 this year.

The panel has recommended a small increase in the basic allowance up to £5,900 – £441 per year more per councillor than is currently seen at St Edmundsbury Borough Council and a £763 per councillor annual increase at Forest Heath. It equates to a cost of around £2.10 per resident.

From May the two councils will cease to exist and the new West Suffolk Council formed.

But despite the increase, the reduction in councillors from 72 to 64 under the new council, coupled with the fact that there will only be one leader, one cabinet, and one set of committees which chairs and vice-chairs will get special responsibility allowances for, the overall saving will be £30,566, or 5.7%.

The current basic allowance of £5,459 at St Edmundsbury is the highest in Suffolk, although it is not yet clear whether the new West Suffolk Council will have the highest allowance rate from May, as the merger between Waveney and Suffolk Coastal district councils has not yet declared its allowance rates.

The new council will be the seventh largest district level council in the UK. Councillors play a vital role representing their ward, supporting and championing their communities as well as encouraging investment in the area.

The independent remuneration panel, made up of individuals who have no association with the council or councillors, has suggested the costs of the scheme for West Suffolk Council would be a reduction of 5.7% on the previous combined total.

The panel looked at a range of evidence including what the role will be and what is happening in other councils. It also looked at barriers for people becoming councillors, such as work or family commitments and how the scheme can support people who want to stand.

Richard Cooper, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel, said: “After looking at the evidence we believe that the total allowances should cost less than the original combined budget.

“But we also understand the heavy commitment needed to be a councillor which is a 24 hours a day role helping solve complex issues and dealing with very vulnerable people. We believe our recommendations represent good value for money for West Suffolk.”

Members of the West Suffolk Shadow Authority will discuss the report at their next meeting on Tuesday, February 19. Following the debate any agreed recommendations will be made for West Suffolk Council to discuss after it is formed.