The recommendation was made at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday 8th October, as the council faces significant financial pressures and difficult decisions over public spending.
The Independent Remuneration Panel had recommended raising the basic annual allowance paid to councillors from £9,741.63 to £10,715.79, an increase of £974.16 per councillor.
It also proposed continuing annual increases linked to local government staff pay settlements.
However, Conservative councillors have rejected the proposed increase, arguing that raising their own allowances would send the wrong message to residents while the authority works to address its financial difficulties.
Councillor Gary Sumner, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said:
“We are working to close a substantial hole in the Council’s finances, protect essential services and make every pound of residents’ money work harder. In those circumstances, increasing councillors’ allowances would be the wrong decision.
“Residents rightly expect us to exercise restraint ourselves when we are making difficult decisions about the Council’s spending. That is why we have recommended a freeze.”
The proposed 10% increase would add approximately £55,527 a year to the council’s basic allowances bill if applied to all 57 councillors, before any additional increases linked to staff pay awards.
The independent panel, which reviewed allowances earlier this year, argued that payments should remain comparable with those offered by similar local authorities.
It also raised concerns that keeping allowances too low could discourage people from standing for election, particularly those who may struggle to balance council duties with employment or family commitments.
The panel’s wider recommendations included reductions in additional payments made to several committee chairs, as well as changes to mileage allowances.
Cllr Sumner acknowledged the panel’s work and the time councillors devote to their communities, but said the authority’s financial position had to take priority.
“Our priority is to put the Council’s finances on a sound footing and improve the services residents rely on.
We were elected to take responsibility for those decisions, and that responsibility starts with us.
“I hope councillors across all parties will support the freeze when it comes before Full Council.”
The Conservatives run Swindon Borough Council as a minority administration following May’s local elections, meaning they will need support from other councillors to secure their preferred outcome if there is opposition.
The question is expected to be settled at Full Council on Thursday 22nd October. The final decision has not yet been made.
