Reading’s councillor allowances are set to stay the same for another year, subject to a full review from the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP)

Basic allowances for councillors have not risen since 2008, while special responsibility allowances (SRA) for Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) lead members are lower than in 2004.

A report from the IRP recommends that the council votes to keep the allowances the same for 2019/20.

The basic allowance for councillors will remain at £8,820, less than the £8,867 that Bracknell Forest’s members receive, but more Wokingham, West Berks, Slough and Maidenhead.

Changes could come next year, with the panel carrying out a full review into the payments made to councillors to cover the costs of their role.

The council’s agenda papers, which will be discussed at Full Council on Tuesday, March 26, show that leading councillors in Reading receive much less than in other authorities in Berkshire.

RBC’s leader, Cllr Jo Lovelock, receives £7,004 in SRAs on top of her basic allowance, more than £10,000 below any other leader in Berkshire.

The highest paid leader in Berkshire – Bracknell’s Paul Bettison – receives £28,954 while the next lowest paid leader – West Berks Graham Jones – receives £18,865.

RBC’s deputy leader and lead members also receive lower allowances than their Berkshire authority counterparts.