KCC’s full council is the decision maker on Members’ allowances. However, there is a legal requirement under the regulations for Members to have before them a report by an Independent Member Remuneration Panel setting out their recommendations regarding the scheme.
At the meeting today, Members were asked to note the panel’s report and agree the Members’ allowance scheme for 2025-26 including the administration’s proposal of a reduction of 5% to the basic allowance and 5% to the Leader’s Special Responsibility Allowance with all other SRAs being reduced in accordance with the scheme.
It was also proposed to reduce the Dependent’s Carers’ Allowance for Members by 5%.
The opposition parties put forward several amendments. A Liberal Democrat amendment, from Antony Hook, was passed. This sought an increase in the carers’ allowance from a maximum £13.47 per hour to a maximum £13.98 per hour, payable only on production of receipts.
The administration’s proposal as amended was updated and voted through by Members. This means the sum of £202,500 will now be reallocated into Member grants for each Councillor to spend in his or her division – an extra £2,500 to each Member grant for this financial year. This will directly and immediately benefit community projects in Kent.
