Reform-led council approves councillor wage rise

Members of a Reform-led council have awarded themselves a 3.8% increase in wages, known as allowances.

Kent County Council (KCC) members voted 45 in favour of the uplift and 22 against, with five abstentions.

Green Party councillor Stuart Heaver said it was "inappropriate timing and bad optics" to "award ourselves a nice little pay rise".

A report from the Member Remuneration Panel (MRP) suggested an increase of 3.6% for basic allowances and special responsibility allowance in line with inflation in 2025, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In 2024/25, before Reform UK led the council, the total cost for councillors in allowances and expenses was £2.2m.

In 2025/26, all elected KCC members have been entitled to receive a basic allowance of £16,266.91, designed to cover meeting attendance, dealing with residents' concerns and basic office costs but is not a salary.

This will increase to £16,885.05 under the new arrangements.

Some councillors claim an additional special responsibility allowance for a role such as cabinet or deputy cabinet member - £34,770.70 and £16,048.01 respectively.

The elected leader, currently Kemkaran, is entitled to claim £53,493.38. This would increase to £55,526.13 under the changes.

A survey showed that 63% - 19 KCC members - said the basic payment was insufficient.

Conservative group leader Harry Rayner said while he took his allowance, he used it for good causes and charities.