Councillors serving on Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) committees could receive annual payments of £1,680 under new councillor allowance proposals being considered this week.
The proposals would also see committee chairs receive £5,880 a year, with the additional payments expected to cost the combined authority £50,400 annually, assuming no substitute members are required.
The recommendations will be considered by the TVCA Cabinet on Friday, 13 November, nearly a decade after the regional authority was established.
The proposed allowances would apply to members of two key committees: audit and governance, and overview and scrutiny.
Darlington Labour Cllr Mandy Porter currently chairs the audit and governance committee, while Middlesbrough Labour Cllr Ian Blades leads the overview and scrutiny committee.
How much could Tees Valley councillors receive?
Under the proposed Tees Valley councillor allowance arrangements, ordinary members of the two committees would receive £1,680 a year, while committee chairs would receive £5,880 annually.
The £1,680 payment for the audit and governance committee would also apply to independent members who do not represent constituent councils.
Substitute members attending a full meeting of either committee could receive a one-off payment of £140 per meeting.
If approved, the additional annual cost to the combined authority would be £50,400, assuming no substitute appearances are needed.
The recommendations have been prepared by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), a statutory independent body responsible for advising on allowances and remuneration for elected members and other relevant office holders.
The combined authority cannot pay more than the panel recommends, although Cabinet members can agree to lower payments.
Why are new councillor allowances being proposed?
According to TVCA Cabinet papers, regulations introduced in 2024 gave combined authorities the power to pay allowances to members of audit and governance and overview and scrutiny committees.
The changes allow payments for these committee roles in addition to the existing ability to provide a mayoral allowance.
The IRP has also recommended an increase to the mayoral allowance as part of its latest proposals.
In calculating the recommended payments, the panel assessed the time councillors spend attending meetings, completing committee work and undertaking training.
For the overview and scrutiny committee, the panel estimated that members spend around 12 days a year carrying out their responsibilities.
This includes six formal meetings annually, alongside informal meetings, working group activities and training.
Using a daily rate of £140, the panel calculated an annual allowance of £1,680.
Cabinet papers describe this figure as being “on the low side” compared with allowances offered by other combined authorities.
The overview and scrutiny committee currently has 15 members.
Audit and governance committee members could receive equal payments
The audit and governance committee has seven members and is expected to hold fewer meetings than the overview and scrutiny committee.
The Independent Remuneration Panel considered whether its members should receive a lower allowance because of the reduced meeting commitment.
However, it ultimately recommended equal payments for members of both committees.
The panel took into account the greater risks associated with audit and governance responsibilities, as well as the more complex reading required of committee members.
As a result, members of both committees could receive the same £1,680 annual allowance if Cabinet approves the recommendations.
Additional payments proposed for independent standards roles
The proposed changes also include two payments of £1,000 each for independent persons for standards.
These positions are separate from the combined authority’s committee membership and are a legal requirement.
Independent persons are consulted before decisions are made concerning allegations about the conduct of an elected member.
The payments would form part of the wider remuneration arrangements being considered by the combined authority.
When will Tees Valley Combined Authority decide?
The TVCA Cabinet is scheduled to consider the Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendations on Friday, 13 November.
Cabinet members will decide whether to approve the proposed allowances, which would introduce additional payments for councillors serving on the audit and governance and overview and scrutiny committees.
The recommendations have not yet been approved.
