Local Government Act 2000

Allowances and pensions

99 Allowances and pensions for certain local authority members

(1) The provision which may be made by regulations under section 7 of the [1972 c. 11.] Superannuation Act 1972 (superannuation of persons employed in local government service etc) includes provision for or in connection with the provision of pensions, allowances or gratuities to or in respect of such members of a local authority as may be prescribed by the regulations.

(2) In subsection (1) “local authority” has the same meaning as in Part II of this Act.

(3) Section 18 of the [1989 c. 42.] Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (schemes for basic, attendance and special responsibility allowances for local authority members) is amended as follows.

(4) At the beginning of subsection (1) there is inserted “Subject to subsection (1A),” and after that subsection there is inserted—

“(1A) In relation to a district council, county council, county borough council or London borough council, subsection (1) above shall have effect with the omission of paragraph (b).”

(5) After subsection (2) there is inserted—

“(2A) Regulations under this section may authorise or require a scheme made by a district council, county council, county borough council or London borough council to include provision for the payment to members of the council of allowances in respect of such expenses of arranging for the care of children or dependants as are necessarily incurred in the carrying out of their duties as members.”

(6) In subsection (3), for “and (2)” there is substituted “to (2A)”.

(7) After subsection (3) there is inserted—

“(3A) Regulations under this section may make provision for or in connection with—

(a) enabling district councils, county councils, county borough councils or London borough councils to determine which members of the council are to be entitled to pensions, allowances or gratuities,

(b) treating the basic allowance or the special responsibility allowance as amounts in respect of which such pensions, allowances or gratuities are payable.

(3B) Regulations under this section may make provision for or in connection with requiring a district council, county council, county borough council or London borough council to establish and maintain a panel which is to have such functions as may be specified in the regulations in relation to allowances, or pensions, allowances or gratuities, payable to members of the council.

(3C) Regulations under this section may make provision for or in connection with enabling a panel established by a body specified in the regulations to exercise such functions as may be specified in the regulations in relation to allowances, or pensions, allowances or gratuities, payable to members of such district councils, county councils or London borough councils in England as may be specified in the regulations.

(3D) Regulations under this section may make provision for or in connection with the establishment by the National Assembly for Wales on a permanent or temporary basis of a panel which is to have such functions as may be specified in the regulations in relation to allowances, or pensions, allowances or gratuities, payable to members of county councils and county borough councils in Wales.

(3E) Regulations under subsection (3B) above may include provision—

(a) with respect to the number of persons who may or must be appointed to the panel of a council,

(b) with respect to the persons who may or must be appointed to the panel of a council,

(c) for or in connection with the appointment by councils of joint panels.

(3F) Regulations under subsection (3C) may include provision—

(a) with respect to the number of persons who may or must be appointed to a panel mentioned in that subsection,

(b) with respect to the persons who may or must be appointed to such a panel.

(3G) Regulations under subsection (3B), (3C) or (3D) may include provision—

(a) for or in connection with enabling a panel mentioned in that subsection to make recommendations to a council on the level of allowances payable to members of the council,

(b) for or in connection with enabling such a panel to make recommendations to a council as to which members of the council are to be entitled to pensions, allowances or gratuities,

(c) which permits different recommendations to be made in relation to different councils or descriptions of council.”

(8) In subsection (4), for the word “and” at the end of paragraph (b) there is substituted—

“(ba) make provision with respect to the amendment, revocation or replacement of a scheme made by a relevant authority under the regulations; and”.

(9) After subsection (5) there is inserted—

“(5A) In making or operating any scheme authorised or required by regulations under this section, a district council, county council, county borough council or London borough council shall have regard to any guidance for the time being issued by the Secretary of State.”

100 Power to make provision about allowances

(1) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision with respect to—

(a) allowances payable to members of a parish council,

(b) travelling and subsistence allowances payable to members of such relevant authorities as may be prescribed,

(c) allowances payable to members of such relevant authorities as may be prescribed for attending conferences or meetings,

(d) the reimbursement of expenses incurred by members of such relevant authorities as may be prescribed.

(2) For the purposes of this section a member of a committee or sub-committee of a relevant authority is to be treated as a member of the authority.

(3) The provision which may be made under subsection (1)(b) includes provision with respect to allowances in respect of travel by bicycle or by any other non-motorised form of transport.

(4) The provision which may be made under this section includes provision which amends or repeals any provisions of sections 173 to 178 of the [1972 c. 70.] Local Government Act 1972.

(5) Before making any regulations under this section, the Secretary of State must consult such representatives of local government and such other persons (if any) as he considers appropriate.

(6) In this section—

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State,

• “relevant authority” means—

  (a)

  a body specified in section 21(1) of the [1989 c. 42.] Local Government and Housing Act 1989,

  (b)

  a body on which a body falling within paragraph (a) is represented,

  (c)

  a parish council.

(7) In its application to Wales this section has effect as if—

(a) for any reference to the Secretary of State there were substituted a reference to the National Assembly for Wales,

(b) for any reference to a parish council there were substituted a reference to a community council.