Councillors are not paid a salary, but receive an annual allowance to reimburse them for time they have spent on council duties and any costs they may incur as a result.
Councillors that hold certain posts, such as chairman, cabinet member or leader of the council, also receive a special responsibility allowance.
All councillors also:
- get an allowance to cover IT and office expenses they may incur whilst carrying out their duties.
- are entitled to claim travelling and subsistence expenses when performing council duties.
- may claim £25 a night to cover out-of-pocket expenses if they attend a conference approved by the council and stay away from home for one or more nights.
If a councillor has to pay for the care of a dependant (a child under the age of 14, an elderly person aged over 60, a disabled person, or someone with learning difficulties) whilst they are on council duties, and the dependant normally lives with them, they are also able to claim carer's allowance.