Town councillors are set for a rise next year in their mandatory payments if draft report is approved by an Independent Panel.

Town councillors will tonight discuss the financial implications of a new draft report by the Independent Renumeration Panel for Wales (IRPW) on the expenses and allowances of councillors across Wales. The IRPW is currently consulting on their report before a final version is approved in February.

In the draft report, the panel are indicating that the existing basic payment of £150 a year for costs and expenses is replaced with a mandatory payment for working from home of £156 a year and a mandatory payment for consumables of £52 a year. This would result in a rise of £58 a year for each town councillor.

A working group, consisting of Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mike Childs and Resources Committee Chair, Cllr Rupert Taylor have met to consider the financial implication of the report on the council's finances. In their report they have recommended that the town council respond to the draft report stating that they do not agree with the new mandatory payment for consumables and that it should be optional alongside the new payment for working from home.

The report also indicates that the town council would fall under a new 'Group' for payments, slashing the current 5 senior salaries paid to 3.

Town councillors also approved earlier in the year a new attendance allowance scheme which sees them take home £30 per meeting attended. So far this year, the town council has paid out £3,679 in allowances.

Town councillors can exclude themselves from the payments by writing to the Town Clerk.