St Columb Major Town Council
Mayor’s Personal Allowance Policy
The Local Government Act 1972, section 15(5) allows a local council to “pay the chairman for the purpose of enabling him to meet the expenses of his office such allowance as the council think reasonable”.
St Columb Major Town Council considers that £3,500 per annum is a reasonable allowance for the Mayor of St Columb Major.
It is the policy of St Columb Major Town Council that the Mayor’s Personal Allowance should not be paid as a lump sum. Rather, payments from the Allowance must be drawn down only for expenses incurred by the Mayor in the discharge of his or her duties, or incurred in order to facilitate those duties. Payment or reimbursement of any expense will only be made if the Town Clerk agrees that the expenditure is legitimate, and upon the production of an invoice or a receipt for the expense.
If, at the end of the civic year, there is an Allowance surplus, the Mayor may donate that surplus to a local charity or charities, and / or a similar organisation or organisations, of his or her choice. The sum(s) and recipient(s) of any donation(s) made from any Allowance surplus will be reported to the Annual Meeting of the Council immediately following the end of the civic year for which the Allowance was earmarked.
Adopted by Full Council, 12th May 2026