How much Reading councillors could get paid this year has been revealed.
How much Reading councillors could get paid this year has been revealed.
Being a councillor involves attending full council and committee meetings, meetings of partner organisations and interceding for residents. Many meetings are held after work, usually at 6.30pm.
The allowances are reviewed early each year for the financial year running April 2026 to March 2027.
The Basic Allowance for individual councillors is set at £9,825.99. That rises depending on extra duties, paid as 'Special Responsibility Allowances'.
Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), leader of the council since May 2024, is due an extra £22,111.80. As council leader she heads the policy committee, must attend all full council meetings and devises the ruling Labour group's policies.
Deputy leader Cllr Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) chairs the policy committee when Cllr Terry is absent, upholds the council's strategic vision and liaises with stakeholders. He is expected to receive an additional £13,506.12.
Lead councillors will get an extra £11,354.76 in 2026/27. Their duties include devising council policies on planning, social care, housing and transport.
The leader of the opposition and the chairs of the planning applications committee and licensing applications committee will each receive an extra £7,262.28. Cllr Rob White (Green, Park) is the opposition leader. Cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) chairs planning and is expected to attend planning site visits. Cllr Paul Woodward (Labour, Church) chairs licensing, which resolves premises applications and taxi driver licence policies.
Chairs of other committees and leaders of other political groups will receive an additional £3,632.28.
The payments were devised by an Independent Remuneration Panel of three: Sally Swift, Jeanette Skeats and Mick Polleck. The panel was supported by Simon Hill, the council's acting democratic services manager, and Jemma Durkan, a committee services officer.
Councillors are also expected to attend Berkshire and area-wide committees such as the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority, the Berkshire Pension Fund Management Committee and the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel.
The payment levels are set to be agreed at a full council meeting on Tuesday, January 27.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
