An independent panel will review how much Cotswold District councillors get paid despite concerns it is the wrong time to consider their allowances in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The district council has agreed this week to ask the independent remuneration panel to carry out the review and bring a report back to councillors by September.
Councillors have also authorised a one-off payment of £250 to be made to the panel members and have appointed Richard Blamey as a third member of the panel.
But some councillors felt it was the wrong time to be considering a change to how much allowance councillors are entitled to.
Conservative group leader Richard Morgan said: “As we are coming out of Covid, we believe this is the wrong time to be looking at this.
“But this is another debate for another day.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Patrick Coleman said it was important to have a regular review.
“I wanted to pick up the point made by the leader of the Conservative group.
“I can understand that it’s a widely held view particularly among Conservative councillors but perhaps councillors of other groups in other parts of the country that now is not the time either to carry out the review or bring in any increase.
“It seems to me, as most councils in the South West are still run by Conservatives, it should be within their remit to achieve that at least in the councils they run.
“I should be interested to see if in fact they do that.”
Under the current allowance scheme, which was agreed in 2019, all Cotswold District councillors are entitled to £5,000 a year.
On top of that, the council leader is entitled to £15,000 a year and the deputy leader £10,000 with cabinet members’ allowance currently set at £7,500.
The chairman and vice chairman of the planning and licensing committee are entitled to £7,500 and £2,500 per year, respectively.
While the chairman and vice chairman of the overview and scrutiny committee can receive £5,000 and £2,500 per year, respectively.
The audit committee chairman has an allowance of £2,500.
And leaders of registered minority political groups are also entitled to £5,000 a year.
Councillors can also claim 45p mileage allowance for travel during official duties by driving a car or cycling a bike.
The allowance for motorcycle travel is 36.4p per mile.
They are also entitled to up £300 for IT equipment.
