Cost of councillors Allowances to Hartlepool taxpayers down, as special responsibility payments decline..
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Audit report shows reduced political governance costs at Hartlepool Borough Council, as councillors refuse to take additional Special Responsibility Payments
21st Feb 2026
Councillors in Hartlepool cost local taxpayers significantly less in allowances in the most recent financial year, according to the councils own audited financial statements which were presented to the Audit and Governance Committee last week.
The updated accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025 show that the total paid out in members’ allowances fell to £298,802. This represents a sharp reduction from the previous year’s figure of £383,598 — a drop of £84,796. The figures were published as part of the external auditor’s Audit Completion Report and Statement of Accounts, which were submitted to the committee as part of its statutory governance role.
Councillors opting not to take additional SRA payments
The reduction is largely attributable to a fall in the amount paid in Special Responsibility Allowances. These are additional payments made to councillors who take on senior roles — such as committee chairs and other positions carrying extra duties — and are paid on top of the basic allowance in recognition of the greater workload and responsibility attached to those posts.
In the latest financial year fewer of these enhanced payments were made, resulting in a substantially lower overall allowances bill and reducing the direct cost of elected members to local taxpayers.
The external audit, carried out by Forvis Mazars, states that the accounts were prepared in line with the required local councils accounting code and that the audit is expected to receive an unqualified opinion, with no significant weaknesses identified in the council’s arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources, this is despite the council detailing recently that it has a six million pound black hole in its finances caused by ongoing pressures in the Children's Sector. .
Auditors also confirmed they had not identified any material issues, instances of fraud, or control failures that would require public intervention, and that the council had provided comprehensive working papers to support the financial statements.
The fall in councillors’ allowances stands out as one of the clearer year-on-year movements within the councils expenditure and will be seen as a notable reduction in the cost of political governance at a time when the council continues to face ongoing budget pressures.
The accounts were scrutinised by the Audit and Governance Committee, the body responsible for overseeing financial reporting and ensuring proper stewardship of public money. The committee was told the audit work was substantially complete and that no objections had been received from local electors regarding the accounts.
