THE annual allowance for BCP Council's councillors could go up by nearly five per cent, if approved. 

The authority’s draft budget for 2024/25 shows money has been factored in for a 4.5 per cent “pay award increase”. 

As part of the proposed budget, provision has been made for a total cost of councillors of £1.66m in 2024/25, the draft budget said. 

It would mean a basic councillor’s allowance would be more than £15,100 while the leader would see an increase to £32,729. 

If agreed, a pay increase would come into effect from April 1 and would be in accordance with the employees’ national pay award. 

The draft budget said: “The council is required to adopt an annual scheme of councillor allowances as specified under the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003. 

“Council on 23 May 2023 agreed a scheme of members’ allowances for 2023/24 which included a provision that the allowances be increased in accordance with the Employees’ National Pay Award when determined and backdated to 23 May 2023.  

“The agreed pay award applicable to the scheme of allowances for 2023/24 was 6.75 per cent. The budget as proposed for 2024/25 assumes a pay award increase in 2024/25 of 4.5 per cent.”

The proposals are expected to be agreed later this year.