Independent panel on councillors' remuneration

Local authorities are required, by law, to make a scheme of allowances for their elected members and to establish and maintain an independent remuneration panel to make recommendations about the scheme and the amounts to be paid.

Our IRP is a group of people, appointed by the our chief executive (and none of whom are councillors or council employees), who meet on a regular basis to discuss allowances which they consider should be paid to councillors, and make recommendations as appropriate.

The duties of the IRP in Luton include:

• reviewing and making recommendations about the level of basic allowance paid to all elected members of the council
• the special responsibility allowances paid
• the level of those allowances to those councillors who have extra responsibilities
• childcare and dependent carers' allowances
• travel and subsistence allowances
• allowances paid to co-opted (ie non-elected) members

Follow this link for further information on the functions of the IRP.

We are keen to encourage all members of the community to learn more about the way allowances paid to its councillors are determined, and to take part in the process, eg by making a submission to the IRP about what should be considered during their work. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact us on the details provided.