Explanatory note

These regulations are made in exercise of the powers conferred by section 50 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and sections 11 and 16 of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004. They amend the provisions in the Local Government (Allowances and Expenses) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (S.S.I. 2007/108) (“the 2007 Regulations”) and implement recommendations made by the Scottish Local Authorities Remuneration Committee in its report published in November 2009 - Annual Review of Remuneration for Local Authority Councillors, (IBSN: 978-0-7559-8192-2).

Regulation 2(3), (4) and (6) makes amendments to the 2007 Regulations to introduce a new allowance of £2 for each mile travelled by boat from one island to another, within the same local authority area, payable only for Islands Councils members carrying out approved duties or an entitlement to claim reimbursement of receipted expenditure for travel by chartered boat between islands not directly served by a public ferry service.

Regulation 2(5) introduces an option for local authorities to publish the annual records of payments to members in a format of their choice, provided it contains all the relevant information.

Regulation 2(7) introduces the necessary amendments to the standard claim form in Schedule 3, which councils are required to issue to members, in respect of their claims for expenses and allowances and to the related Notes of Guidance for Completion of the Claim Form, Summary of Claim and Declaration.

Regulation 2(8) substitutes a new Schedule 4, which outlines the minimum amount of information which local authorities are obliged to include in their Annual Return.

Further information is available in the document – “Councillors’ Remuneration: Remuneration, Allowances and Expenses – Guidance”, available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/local-government/16340.