Councillors' allowances and payments

Find out about the allowances councillors get for the time they give to the community and to cover expenses

The basic allowance of £14,330 is paid to all 70 councillors of Bristol City Council.

Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA)

An SRA is paid only to selected councillors and its amount varies.

Councillors are only eligible for one special responsibility allowance even if they serve in more than one role.

The following councillors receive an SRA to reflect their special responsibilities which are over and above their role as a ward councillor:

• the elected Mayor
• chairs of the scrutiny commissions
• chairs of certain committees
• party group leaders and party whips
• Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor

How the allowance levels are decided

The Members' Remuneration Independent Review Panel looks at the duties and responsibilities of councillors and makes recommendations on the level of allowances it believes councillors should get. 

The panel's recommendations take into account government guidelines, academic research and the allowances paid in comparable cities.

The independent review panel's recommendations are reported to a full council meeting. Councillors decide whether to accept the levels recommended by the independent panel.

What’s paid to councillors

We publish the amount that has been paid to councillors in a statement of allowances.

Statements for the last five years:

• Statement of allowances paid 2020/21 (spreadsheet, 15KB) (opens new window)
• Statement of allowances paid 2019/20 (spreadsheet, 15KB) (opens new window)
• Statement of allowances paid 2018/19 (spreadsheet, 19KB) (opens new window)
• Statement of allowances paid 2017/18 (spreadsheet, 22KB) (opens new window)
• Statement of allowances paid 2016/17 (spreadsheet, 26KB) (opens new window)

You can request previous years statements by contacting Democratic Services on 0117 922 2384 or democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk.

Reports for the last five years:

• Members' remuneration independent review panel report and recommendations - May 2020
• Members' remuneration independent review panel report and supplementary recommendations - May 2020
• Members' remuneration independent review panel report and recommendations - June 2014 (pdf, 497KB) (opens new window)
• Members' remuneration independent review panel report and recommendations - March 2013
• Councillors' allowance decision for the 2013/14 financial year - decision

To find out more about the latest members' allowances and expenses or the policy that states how much we pay our councillors, read Part 6 of our constitution (pdf, 136KB) (opens new window)  and our Special Responsibility Allowances 2020/21 sheet (pdf, 83KB) (opens new window) .

You can request copies of the independent review panel’s reports and recommendations by contacting Democratic Services on 0117 922 2384 or democratic.services@bristol.gov.uk.