Local Government Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

Allowances, etc. for councillors

31.—(1) Regulations may provide for the payment by councils of such allowances or other payments as may be prescribed to councillors for, or in relation to anything done in connection with, service as councillors.

(2) Payments by a council under the regulations shall be of such amounts or at such rates as may be determined by the council, but shall not exceed such amounts or rates as may be determined by the Department.

(3) Regulations may require each council to make a scheme setting out the amounts or rates of the allowances or other payments determined by the council.

(4) Regulations under subsection (3) may require councils—

(a) to make a scheme by a prescribed date;

(b) to publish a scheme in a prescribed manner.

(5) Payments by a council under the regulations shall be made subject to and in accordance with—

(a) its scheme;

(b) regulations under this section; and

(c) any guidance issued by the Department.

(6) In this section any reference to a council includes a reference to a joint committee and any reference to the district of a council includes a reference to the districts of all the councils which have concurred in appointing the joint committee.

(7) In this section “joint committee” has the same meaning as in the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 (c. 9).