Politics & Council · Trowbridge
Wiltshire councillors reject proposed allowance cuts in heated debate
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Wiltshire Council members have voted down a series of independent recommendations designed to overhaul councillor allowances and save taxpayers £224,000 annually.
Wiltshire Council members have overwhelmingly rejected a set of independent proposals that would have overhauled councillor allowances, a move expected to save local taxpayers around £224,000 a year. During a full council meeting held on Tuesday, October 20, elected members opted to back their own alternative plan instead, which is estimated to deliver savings of approximately £5,000 from the current £2.52 million annual allowances budget.
The decision followed an investigation by an Independent Remuneration Panel, which was commissioned at a cost of £2,500 to conduct a thorough review of a system that has remained largely unchanged since 2017. The panel produced 25 recommendations intended to modernise the structure and ensure greater fiscal responsibility.
Key proposals from the independent panel included maintaining the basic annual allowance of £17,585, while significantly restructuring Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs). The panel suggested that councillors should be restricted to receiving only one SRA. Further specific recommendations included reducing the deputy leader's SRA from £35,169 to £26,377 and halving the allowances for Area Board chairs from £9,892 to £4,397.
The debate at County Hall in Trowbridge proved contentious, with some members expressing strong opposition to the panel's findings. Cllr Ian Thorn, leader of the Liberal Democrat-run administration, argued that the panel showed a lack of understanding regarding the work councillors perform, stating: “The value we bring to our communities, the value we bring to the taxpayer is extraordinary and remarkable.”
Conservative councillor Richard Clewer argued that limiting members to a single SRA could have the unintended consequence of making local government roles unaffordable for those who are not retired or independently wealthy. Echoing this sentiment, cabinet member Adrian Foster noted that taking the allowances is optional for individual councillors.
However, the proposals found support among some members who campaigned on platforms of fiscal prudence. Reform UK group leader Ed Rimmer moved an amendment to adopt all 25 recommendations of the panel, arguing that it was inappropriate for the council to cherry-pick the findings after commissioning an independent review. He was supported by Independent group leader Ernie Clark and several other members, who questioned the optics of asking residents to accept less while the council maintained its own financial structure. The amendment was defeated, with 76 votes against and 14 in favour.
Ultimately, the council approved its own alternative plan by 75 votes to 11, formally setting aside the majority of the panel's suggestions.
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