Councillors' allowances

The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 require local authorities to make a scheme of allowances for their members and to establish and maintain an independent remuneration panel to make recommendations to the Council about the scheme and the amounts to be paid.

The Regulations make specific provision for the London Councils (formerly the Association of London Government) to establish a panel, which could exercise the functions of an independent remuneration panel on behalf of London borough councils.

Members Allowances Scheme 2024/25

The allowances provided to councillors are outlined in the Council's Members' Allowances Scheme.

In compliance with Regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, the following documents are accessible to view.

• Members Allowances Scheme 2024/25

Allowances for 2023/24

This notice sets out the allowances for Wandsworth Councillors for the financial year 2023/24.

• Allowances and expenses paid in 2023/24

Previous allowances

Allowances paid in previous years:

• Allowances and expenses paid in 2022/23
• Allowances and expenses paid in 2021/22

Roles with Special Responsibility Allowances

If a councillor has a certain role or special responsibility they are eligible for further allowances.

Leader of the Council

Strategic leadership of the authority; responsibility and accountability for the work of the Council across all its services; spokesperson for the Council in the media and elsewhere; representing the Council at meetings and events (e.g. with government ministers/departments, local authority associations, etc.); chairing Executive meetings; chairing ward-based Report Back Meetings.

Executive (Cabinet) Member

Leadership of the Council's responsibilities in respect of the particular portfolio allocated to a Cabinet member by the Leader; spokesperson for the Council in the media and elsewhere in respect of this portfolio; representing the Council in this regard at meetings and events (e.g. with government ministers/departments, local authority associations, etc.); advice on policy priorities for consideration; strategic policy advice for consideration on budget priorities; and performance management monitoring for all services in their portfolio.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) Chair

Leading the scrutiny of the Council's activity and plans in particular areas of service and lead responsibility for improving these through the scrutiny process; involvement in the preparation of business for the OSC meetings and chairing of those committee meetings; supporting the relevant Cabinet Member in their role of representing the Council in that area of service. In the case of the Adult Care and Health OSC, leading the scrutiny of all health services in the Borough and liaison with partner organisations in the health sector.

Planning Applications Committee Chair

Leading the Council's responsibilities in relation to land use planning and the physical development of the borough, including key development sites; involvement in the preparation of business for the committee and chairing of those committee meetings; representing the Council on town planning issues.

Planning Applications Committee Deputy Chair

Supporting the Chair in the full range of their duties, including chairing the Conservation Advisory Committee.

Licensing Committee Chair

Leading the Council's responsibilities in relation to licensing of premises across the borough for a range of regulated activities and protection of local communities from the impact of such activities; involvement in the preparation of business for the committee and chairing of those committee meetings; representing the Council on licensing issues; involvement in considering licensing applications as a member of the Licensing Sub-Committee.

Policy Champions

Policy Champions work alongside the Cabinet Member sponsoring their role and will support the work of the Cabinet.

Policy Champions will perform in support of the work of their sponsoring Cabinet Member:

• Work with Cabinet Members as well as with Council officers to maintain visibility of issues relevant to their area of responsibility
• Raise awareness of and advocate for groups and/or issues relevant to their area of responsibility within and outside of the Council
• Research best practice in other councils, subject specific national groups, and examine the Council’s internal processes relevant to their area of responsibility to make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for improvement
• Promote emerging Council strategies relevant to their area of responsibility locally and where relevant to a wider audience

Leader of the Opposition

Leading and representing the Minority Group of Councillors and fulfilling the formal roles of this position as required in the Council's Constitution and legislation. 

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Supporting the Leader of the Opposition in the full range of their duties.

Opposition Chief Whip

Organisation and coordination of the Minority Group of Councillors.  

Adoption and Fostering Panels

Attendance at meetings of these panels to participate in decisions on the placement of children for adoption and fostering.

Co-optee

To act as a Member of the Education and Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee appointed as a legal representative of church authorities or parent governors; or serving on the Standards Committee as a legal Independent Member, including involvement in the consideration of complaints of misconduct by Members of the authority.