Councillors' Allowances

The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 enable the authority to pay various allowances to councillors.

Allowances paid in 2009/10

Allowances paid to councillors in the financial year 2009/10 are detailed in this link (PDF, 120 KB opens in a new window).

Council Members lists all councillors currently elected to the authority. Selecting a name will take you to that member's personal contact page and to details of their committee and other memberships.

Types of allowances

The Members' Allowances scheme in part 6 of the council's constitution sets out the scheme and amounts currently payable. Briefly, the allowances cover:

basic - payable to all elected members, unless they choose not to receive it
special responsibility - for office held eg. Cabinet Member or Chair of Planning Committee
carer's - payable for the care of dependent children or other relatives
IT - to cover internet connection charges and consumables eg. printer cartridges
travel
subsistence
co-optees allowances

Independent Remuneration Panel

The amounts of members' allowances payable can only be modified or altered by the council following recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel. Once set, the allowances are then inflation-linked by one mechanism or another.

The Panel members are independent of the council and nominations to serve are invited from the local business community, voluntary sector etc.

Further information

If you would like any further information on members' allowances, please contact the Member Services Manager,

In writing to: Member Services, Department of Resources, Council Offices, Crescent Gardens, Harrogate, HG1 2SG

By telephone: 01423 556002

By email: membserv@harrogate.gov.uk