Town councillors to vote on paying themselves an allowance - again

Welshpool Town Councillors will again be asked to approve paying themselves an allowance on Wednesday night – after rejecting the idea back in May.

The council’s Finance Committee is recommending the adoption of an Independent Review Panel for Wales decision that it becomes mandatory to allocate allowances to town and community councillors.

The decision is included in the Review Panel’s annual report for 2017 though it states councillors can decide to forgo receiving any payment.

Councillors will be able to claim £150 per year towards expenses and councils can now pay up to five community councillors £500 for extra work.

The Finance Committee is recommending that an allowance be made in the budget for the minimum amount of £2,900; £150 be allocated to each Councillors along with £500 extra to the Mayor with the Mayoral allowance to be reduced to £1,100.

At the council’s May meeting members voted by 12-1 to reject the opportunity to receive expenses.