District councillors will vote on whether to give themselves a pay rise later this month.

Last year, the average allowance for Malvern Hills District Council members was significantly less than for other district councils in Worcestershire.

Councillors in Malvern Hills were given an average allowance of £6,070, compared to £6,948 in Wychavon and £7,237.

The Independent Remuneration Panel for District Councils in Worcestershire has recommended that MHDC increases the basic allowance for 2024/25, which is paid to all councillors, be increased from £5,081 to £5,518 - a rise of 8.6 percent.

A report going before a full council meeting on May 14 says: “The panel is conscious of the current financial challenges but also mindful to avoid increasing any gap in allowances between Malvern Hills District Council and its nearest neighbours.

“The panel also considers that the basic allowance should cover the need for councillors to use

ICT and social media support and communication systems as part of their role. However, it is accepted that specific local decisions may be made about how ICT support is provided.”

The panel isn’t recommending any changes to the special responsibility allowance paid to the council’s leader, deputy leader, portfolio holders and committee chairs.

“Special Responsibility Allowances are paid to a small number of councillors to reflect responsibilities undertaken by them in addition to their day-to-day roles as elected representatives,” the report explains.

“Such allowances are paid in addition to the basic allowance and calculated as a multiplier of the basic allowance.

“Any recommended changes in such allowances would be based on proposals made to the panel each year and reflecting, for example changes in committee structures, new responsibilities or increases/decreases in existing responsibilities.”

City councillors in Worcester voted for a six percent increase in their allowance back in February - much less than the 15.17 percent rise suggested by the panel.

That took the basic allowance for a Worcester city councillor to £5,078, with special responsibility allowances paid to leaders, committee chairs and vice-chairs.