Swindon councillors have already rejected an increase in the allowance of nearly 4 per cent for this year.

But they might get a small increase in the basic allowance they all receive if staff at Euclid Street get their raise this year as a lump sum.

Towards the end of 2023, the council’s independent remuneration committee recommended an increase of 3.88 per cent to the councillor’s basic allowance of £8,940 – which would have taken it to £9,287.

But that was refused by the cabinet and members of the council. The members had refused the two previous increases suggested by the panel and the basic allowance has not increased since 2021-22.

Members had decided that it would not be appropriate to take an increase in allowance during a cost-of-living crisis.

But according to the leader of the council, Councillor Jim Robbins the remuneration committee was concerned that a long period of no increase, could mean a larger increase would be necessary in the future.

He said: “It felt if we kept not taking any increase then it would be so much bigger by the time it would be necessary to increase the allowance.”

The committee made another recommendation that if the staff p[ay settlement came in the form of a lump sum, rather than a percentage increase, as happened the last two years, that the lump sum offered to the lowest paid staff at the council be converted to a percentage, and that percentage be offered as an increase.

Cabinet agreed to recommend to council that this be approved for this year and for 2025-26.

The cabinet also agreed to recommend councillors approved a parental leave policy for councillors based on the template policy drawn by the Local Government Association.

That will give members up to six months maternity leave, with the operation to extend to 52 weeks; and two weeks paternity leave.

If both parents are members of the council, leave may be shared up to maximum of 24 weeks for the first six months and 26 weeks for the second.

Members who adopt a child will be entitled to up to six months parental leave.

All councillors on parental leave will continue to be paid their allowance for that time.

Both of the measures have to be approved by council – but the Labour administration which has recommended them has sufficient votes to ensure the council should follow the recommendations.