Councillors' allowances and expenses

Borough councillors receive a basic allowance each year for conducting their duties. This might include, but is not limited to, activities such as:

• attending council meetings
• conducting work or research on behalf of residents
• attending local events
• resolving issues in their local community

They can also claim expenses, such as travel costs, which relate to their work as a councillor.

In addition, some councillors receive a special responsibility allowance in recognition of additional duties, such as being a Cabinet member.

Full details of the Members' Allowances Scheme are set out in Part 6 of the Council's Constitution.

The total amount paid to each councillor is published at the end of each financial year. You can find amounts paid in previous years on our transparency on spend page. Amounts paid for the 2024/25 financial year will be available soon.

Members' Allowances Scheme

The basic and special responsibility allowances payable under the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2025/26 are as follows:

Only one special responsibility allowance may be claimed in addition to the basic allowance.

In accordance with Part 3 (13) of the regulations, any member may elect to forgo all or part of their entitlement to allowances by notifying the Director of Finance, Policy and Development.

Childcare Allowance and Dependants’ Carers' Allowance

Members can claim the Childcare Allowance or Dependants’ Carers' Allowance to assist with any financial loss incurred by paying for care of a child or dependant relative while attending any approved duty (as specified in Schedule 3 of Part 6 of the Council's Constitution), plus travel time.

• The Childcare Allowance will be paid at the National Living Wage (currently £12.21) hourly rate, irrespective of the amount actually paid by the member.
• The maximum hourly rate claimable under the Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance is £19 per hour.

Travel allowance

Motor vehicle mileage rates will be paid in accordance with the approved mileage rates published by HM Revenues and Customs (opens in a new window). The current rates for mileage are as follows:

Reimbursement will be limited to comparable costs of using public transport where the Director of Finance, Policy and Development determines that public transport was a practical alternative.

Travel by bus, rail and taxi will be reimbursed at the actual fare paid (limited to standard class for rail travel).

Subsistence and overnight accommodation expenses

Rates are those published by South East Employers for 2021/22 (opens in a new window).

Reimbursement is upon submission of a receipt up to a maximum of:

Overnight accommodation will be reimbursed at reasonable actual cost.

Mayor's allowance

The Mayor and Deputy Mayor receive an allowance (in addition to the basic allowance and any special responsibility allowance) for the year, to help them undertake their civic duties. They do not receive any other payments or pensions. The allowances they receive for their civic duties are: