Allowances for Mansfield councillors set to drop from next month as authority bids to make savings

The authority agreed allowance and expenses levels for all councillors in 2019, which was set to run until 2023, before it was reviewed.

But in a report from the authority, it states that levels will now be reduced to take into account the council’s need to ‘seek economies’.

During the 2019-20 financial year, councillors claimed a total of £427,670 in allowances and expenses – topped by Mansfield mayor Andy Abrahams who claimed a total of £50,119, which was largely his mayoral salary.

However, Mr Abrahams donated 30 per cent of his allowance to locally-based good causes through his 500 fund – which aims to donate £500 to 24 projects around the district per year.

Mr Abraham’s allowance was previously set at £54,863, according to the council’s website, but from April 1, his allowance rate will drop to £49,377.

At a meeting of full council earlier this year, members agreed a 10 per cent cut in allowances for all roles with special responsibility.

Councillor Craig Whitby would have been eligible to claim either £18,546 for his role as deputy mayor or £15,364 for serving as portfolio holder for corporate and finance, but not both.

Under the new structure, he will be eligible to claim £16,691 or £13,827 respectively, according to the figures.

Records show that, during the 2019-20 tax year, Coun Whitby claimed a total of £19,215 - including his allowance and travel expenses.

The basic allowance for all ward councillors was set at £6,385.95, and this is now set to drop to £5,747.36.

Previously, the leader of the opposition could claim an additional £1,098,28 on top of the basic allowance, which will now drop to £988.45.

The report states: “The Independent Remuneration Panel into Members’ Allowances was contacted with regard to reducing all special responsibility allowances by 10 per cent, and while they did not believe allowances were excessive, they did recognise the special circumstances which oblige the council to seek economies.”

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