Horsham council members voted to raise the standard payment from £6,786 to £7,003.15 for the 2026/27 financial year.

The uplift to the payment, which all council members receive, was backed during a full council session on Wednesday (April 15).

Council chief Martin Boffey will have his additional payment for leadership duties increase from £18,661 to £19,258.15, while those serving in cabinet positions will see their supplementary payment go up from £8,272.35 to £8,537.07.

The modifications were put forward in a document from the Independent Remuneration Panel, although the council retained the option to reject them. However, as Mr Boffey observed, disregarding the suggestions would begin to undermine the entire process.

Characterising payments as a difficult matter, he reflected on the tension between ongoing expense of living pressures and council members approving increases to their own remuneration.

He continued that they simultaneously need to ensure their payment structure allows the widest range of people to participate in council duties, including those who might not be able to accept positions if the payments were insufficient.

The panel had been requested to examine the additional payments for the chairs and deputy chairs of the various policy and oversight committees, along with a presence-based payment for those serving on licensing sub-committees.

They were also asked to review whether the scheme should include a provision for anticipated future rules that would require the council to allow members access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Among the approved payments were £6,222.61 for the civic head of the council – an increase from £6,029.66 in 2025/26. Each leader of an opposition group comprising three or more members will receive £258 per member – up from £250 in 2025/26. Additionally, the planning committee chair will get £7,224 – increased from £7,000.

Council members are only permitted to claim one additional responsibility payment in addition to their basic payment.