Councillors' allowances
On this page you can find the details of allowances paid to
councillors in the twelve months ending 31 March 2011.
Although councillors are volunteers and unpaid, they do receive
payments (set by an independent review body) to help meet the costs
of representing their communities across the four townships of
Rochdale, Pennines, Heywood and Middleton.
All local councils must pay their members a basic allowance -
the same level for all members, which is intended to cover their
time commitments and incidental costs. This basic allowance
includes an amount to cover all travel they may incur when
undertaking duties within the borough, subsistence and a
contribution towards land line telephone costs.
The basic allowance paid to council members during 2010/11 was
£7,644, one of the lowest in Greater Manchester. Members did not
receive an increase in their allowances last year and their
allowance will also be frozen this year. Some councillors receive a
special responsibility allowance in addition to the basic
allowance, for additional responsibilities.
Special responsibilities include being a member of the Cabinet,
being a chair of a committee, or taking lead responsibility for
dealing with particular areas of work. Allowances are also paid by
the Police, Fire and Rescue Authority, Greater Manchester Passenger
Transport Authority and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund
Advisory Committee to councillors who are nominated to work with
these external bodies. These allowances are paid by the respective
authorities - not the council.
Details of all the allowances paid to members of the council
between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2011 are provided in the attached
files, together with allowances paid to councillors by external
organisations.