New research by the TaxPayers' Alliance reveals the full cost of payments to local councillors - two thirds of a billion pounds over three years. Many councillors receive modest allowances appropriate to the work they do in representing local taxpayers but the variation in what is paid to those in similar roles is significant. In an era of increasing pressure on local authority resources, it is essential that every penny is spent wisely and above inflation rises in payments to councillors are difficult to justify.
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A total of £699 million has been paid to councillors over the past three years.
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At least 238 councils raised the basic rate of allowances paid between 2012-13 and 2014-15.
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Between 2012-13 and 2014-15 the total bill for allowances and expenses has gone up in at least 208 councils.
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If no council had paid above the median value of allowances in each type of authority, at least £113 million would have been saved between 2012-13 and 2014-15.
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The largest percentage increase in the rate of basic allowances between 2012-13 and 2014-15 was 83 per cent in Waverley Council - from £2,454 to £4,501.
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In 2014-15 the highest rate of basic allowance was paid by Moray council - £16,722.
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In 2014-15 the highest rate of special responsibility was paid by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea - £54,769.
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Below are the rates of SRAs paid to the leaders of councils. This does not include directly elected mayors.
In 2014-15:
In the East Midlands
- Nottinghamshire had the highest basic allowance - £12,906
- High Peak had the lowest basic allowance - £3,002
- Leicestershire had the highest special responsibility allowance - £36,228
In the East of England
- Essex had the highest basic allowance - £11,500
- Cambridge had the lowest basic allowance - £2,782
- Essex had the highest special responsibility allowance - £53,500
In London
- Croydon had the highest basic allowance - £11,239
- Kingston upon Thames had the lowest basic allowance - £7,646
- Kensington and Chelsea had the highest special responsibility allowance - £54,769
In the North East
- Durham had the highest basic allowance - £13,300
- Hartlepool had the lowest basic allowance - £5,825
- Sunderland had the highest special responsibility allowance - £37,667
In the North West
- Manchester had the highest basic allowance - £16,043
- South Ribble had the lowest basic allowance - £1,523
- Manchester had the highest special responsibility allowance - £40,067
In Scotland
- Moray had the highest basic allowance - £16,722
- Clackmannanshire had the lowest basic allowance - £16,216
- Edinburgh had the highest special responsibility allowance - £33,123
In the South East
- Kent had the highest basic allowance - £12,805
- Eastbourne had the lowest basic allowance - £2,808
- Surrey had the highest special responsibility allowance - £43,000
In the South West
- Wiltshire had the highest basic allowance - £12,412
- West Somerset had the lowest basic allowance - £2,733
- Dorset had the highest special responsibility allowance - £31,608
In Wales
- All Welsh councils paid a basic rate of £13,300 in 2014-15
- Cardiff and Rhondda Cynon Taf had the highest special responsibility allowance - £39,700
In the West Midlands
- Birmingham had the highest basic allowance - £16,267
- Staffordshire Moorlands had the lowest basic allowance - £2,902
- Birmingham had the highest special responsibility allowance - £50,352
In Yorkshire and Humber
- Leeds had the highest basic allowance - £14,929
- Richmondshire had the lowest basic allowance - £2,950
- Leeds had the highest special responsibility allowance - £37,483