North Somerset councillors have chosen to freeze their allowances for a second consecutive year, even as the council faces major financial challenges. The recently approved budget includes £20 million in cuts and an 8.99% hike in council tax, a rise described by some as “horrendous.”
Facing ongoing reductions in government funding and rising social care costs, the council has made difficult decisions impacting local services and finances. Among the cuts are a further £50,000 reduction in library opening hours and a decrease in council tax discounts for very low-income households. Additionally, the council will save £30,000 by maintaining councillors’ allowances at their current level.
Councillor allowances in North Somerset, which are not salaries but compensations for time and responsibilities, currently stand at £11,285.25 annually. Although an independent committee recommends allowance adjustments, councillors voted not to increase their pay for the second year.
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Labour councillor Helen Thornton expressed support for the budget overall but raised concerns about cuts to libraries, council tax support, and the transfer of council nurseries to academy trusts. She also opposed the continued freeze on councillors’ allowances, warning it could deter younger candidates and reinforce a council demographic dominated by older, middle-class retirees and business professionals.
Statistics reveal that 70% of North Somerset councillors are over 50, with 42% over 60, while just 12% are aged 40 or younger. Allowances aim to ensure diverse participation by compensating for potential income loss caused by reduced working hours or unpaid leave.
An equalities impact assessment noted that freezing allowances might limit representation from a broader demographic, skewing the council towards those with other sources of income. This could influence the inclusivity and lived experience informing council decisions. However, the immediate financial impact of the freeze was assessed as minor. The council is considering a “hardship fund” to support councillors facing financial difficulty and plans to improve guidance on claiming expenses for travel and childcare.
In addition to the basic allowance, councillors with leadership roles receive extra payments: the council leader earns £43,800, deputy leader £34,000, cabinet members £30,800, the chair £21,000, and committee chairs £19,400. Political group leaders also receive additional stipends.
The council emphasized the urgency of approving a balanced budget to avoid issuing a section 114 notice, a financial warning measure. North Somerset is one of just seven councils granted permission to increase council tax beyond the usual limit, raising the annual charge for a typical band D property to £1,955—still under the national average of £2,062. This increase adds approximately £13.44 per month.
Council leader Mike Bell reassured residents that support is available for those struggling with payments, encouraging eligible individuals to seek council tax reductions and other aid.
Independent councillor Mike Bird acknowledged the difficulty of accepting such a steep council tax rise but stressed the necessity, noting that £19 million had been cut from the council’s budget. He argued that rejecting the rise would mean even deeper cuts to essential public services.
The budget, inclusive of the tax increase, service cuts, and the freeze on councillors’ allowances, was approved by a vote of 35 to 6, with two abstentions.