Greenwich Councillors' Allowances Increase Amidst Funding Cuts for Minority Parties

20 March 2026

Greenwich councillors have seen their allowances rise, while funding for minority parties has been cut, following a council meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The proposed changes to the Constitution were approved by a vote of 28 to 8, with one abstention.

The basic allowance for councillors will increase to £15,960, aligning with recommendations from the London Councils' Independent Remuneration Panel. Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) will also increase in line with the annual local government pay settlement. These SRAs are allocated based on a banded approach for roles involving a significant difference in time requirements and levels of responsibility compared to the duties expected of all councillors. Specific roles such as Leader of the Council, Cabinet Members, and Chairs of Scrutiny Panels fall into different bands, as detailed in the Members' Allowances Scheme 2026/2027 report [https://greenwich.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s18840/Members%20Allowances%20Scheme%202026%2027.pdf].

However, the Minority Party Allocation SRA, previously set at £5,879 per qualifying party, has been removed. Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value, stated this was because political assistance is now provided through a more appropriate mechanism. This decision was contentious, with opposition councillors describing it as vindictive and a power grab.

Other changes approved include an increase in the Childcare and Dependents Carers' Allowance to £14.80 per hour, matching the London Living Wage. A sickness policy for Members receiving an SRA will also be introduced, and councillors will become eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme from May 11, 2026. The estimated cost for all councillors joining the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) has been provided for within the budget setting process, estimated at approximately £0.15m.

The overall financial impact of these proposed changes to the Members' Allowances Scheme for 2026/2027 is expected to be covered within the existing Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) calculations. However, if the basic allowance were frozen, there would be a saving of £17,000 against MTFS calculations, and if SRAs were frozen, a saving of £20,000 would be realised. The removal of the Minority Party Allocation SRA represents a foregone allowance as detailed in Appendix B of the report [https://greenwich.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s18842/15.2%20Appendix%20B.pdf].

Bar chart showing the — Gross external debt as % of operational boundary

Councils Involved

Greenwich

Meetings Involved

the Council of Greenwich Council on 18 March 2026

People Involved

Councillor Peter Baker Labour and Co-operative • Abbey Wood

Councillor Sandra Bauer Cabinet Member Equality, Culture and Communities • Labour and Co-operative • Kidbrooke Village and Sutcliffe

Councillor Clare Burke-McDonald Labour and Co-operative • Charlton Hornfair

Councillor Issy Cooke Chair of Inclusive Economy and Culture Scrutiny Panel • Labour and Co-operative • Plumstead Common

Councillor Ann-Marie Cousins Independent • Abbey Wood

Councillor Charlie Davis Deputy Leader of the Opposition • Conservative • Eltham Town and Avery Hill

Councillor Gary Dillon Chair of Planning • Labour and Co-operative • Charlton Village and Riverside

Councillor Lauren Dingsdale Chair of Overview and Scrutiny • Labour and Co-operative • Eltham Town and Avery Hill

Councillor Linda Bird Mayor • Labour and Co-operative • Eltham Park and Progress

Councillor David Gardner Chair of Audit and Risk Management Panel and Deputy Mayor • Labour and Co-operative • Greenwich Peninsula

Councillor Majella Anning Leader of the Independent and Green Group • Independent • Greenwich Creekside

Councillor Nas Asghar Labour and Co-operative • Plumstead Common

Councillor Joshua Ayodele Chair of Organisation and Communities Scrutiny Panel • Labour and Co-operative • Woolwich Arsenal

Councillor Olu Babatola Chair of Pension Fund Investment & Administration Panel • Labour and Co-operative • Thamesmead Moorings

Councillor Cathy Dowse Labour and Co-operative • Mottingham, Coldharbour and New Eltham

Councillor John Fahy Labour and Co-operative • Kidbrooke Park

Councillor Leo Fletcher Chair of Housing and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel • Labour and Co-operative • Blackheath Westcombe

Councillor Patricia Greenwell Conservative • Eltham Town and Avery Hill

Councillor Rowshan Hannan Labour • East Greenwich

Councillor Matt Hartley Leader of the Opposition • Conservative • Mottingham, Coldharbour and New Eltham

Councillor Denise Hyland Cabinet Member Finance, Resources and Social Value • Labour and Co-operative • Abbey Wood

Councillor Elizabeth Ige Chief Whip • Labour and Co-operative • Woolwich Common

Councillor Adel Khaireh Cabinet Member Children and Young People • Labour and Co-operative • Plumstead and Glyndon

Councillor Averil Lekau Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport • Labour and Co-operative • Thamesmead Moorings

Councillor Sam Littlewood Labour and Co-operative • Woolwich Arsenal

Councillor Mariam Lolavar Cabinet Member Health, Adult Social Care and Borough of Sanctuary • Labour and Co-operative • Blackheath Westcombe

Councillor Christine May Labour and Co-operative • Middle Park and Horn Park

Councillor Dr Dominic Mbang Chair of Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel • Labour and Co-operative • Woolwich Dockyard

Councillor Odette McGahey Labour and Co-operative • Kidbrooke Park

Councillor Sarah-Jane Merrill Labour and Co-operative • Eltham Page

Councillor Asli Mohammed Labour and Co-operative • Woolwich Dockyard

Councillor Matthew Morrow Labour and Co-operative • Plumstead Common

Councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan Labour • Greenwich Creekside

Councillor Anthony Okereke Leader of the Council • Labour and Co-operative • Woolwich Common

Councillor ‘Lade Hephzibah Olugbemi Labour and Co-operative • West Thamesmead

Councillor Simon Peirce Labour and Co-operative • Eltham Park and Progress

Councillor Majid Rahman Cabinet Member Planning, Estate Renewal and Development • Labour • East Greenwich

Councillor Jit Ranabhat Chair of Licensing • Labour and Co-operative • Plumstead and Glyndon

Councillor Tamasin Rhymes Deputy Leader of the Independent and Green Group • Green • Shooters Hill

Councillor Maisie Richards Cottell Labour • East Greenwich

Councillor Lakshan Saldin Independent • Charlton Hornfair

Councillor Denise Scott-McDonald Labour and Co-operative • Greenwich Peninsula

Councillor Pat Slattery Cabinet Member Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness • Labour • Greenwich Park

Councillor Aidan Smith Labour • Greenwich Park

Councillor Jackie Smith Cabinet Member Inclusive Economy, Business, Greenwich Supports and Environmental Services • Labour and Co-operative • Woolwich Arsenal

Councillor Jahdia Spencer Labour • West Thamesmead

Councillor Christine St. Matthew-Daniel Labour and Co-operative • Blackheath Westcombe

Councillor Dave Sullivan Labour and Co-operative • Kidbrooke Village and Sutcliffe

Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan Cabinet Member Community Safety and Enforcement • Labour and Co-operative • Middle Park and Horn Park

Councillor Roger Tester Conservative • Mottingham, Coldharbour and New Eltham

Councillor Sandra Thomas Labour and Co-operative • Plumstead and Glyndon

Councillor Jo van den Broek Labour and Co-operative • Charlton Village and Riverside

Councillor Miranda Williams Labour and Co-operative • Eltham Page

Councillor Nick Williams Labour and Co-operative • Greenwich Peninsula

Councillor Raja Zeeshan Labour • Shooters Hill

Director of Health and Adult Services

Interim Director of Place & Growth

Topics

London Councils Councillor Cabinet Member Finance, Resources and Social Value Minority Party Allocation Allowances Childcare and Dependents Carers' Allowance Sickness policy for Members receiving an SRA Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) London Living Wage