The Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities (Remuneration Panels for Member Allowances and Consequential Amendments) Order 2026
Specified independent remuneration panels and amended regional authority constitutions to permit allowances for members with special responsibilities.
This Order establishes the regulatory framework for independent remuneration panels to recommend allowances for members of combined authorities (CAs) and combined county authorities (CCAs) in England who have special responsibilities.
It directs that panels established under existing 2017 regulations function as the "relevant remuneration panels" for the purposes of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.
The Order applies to across multiple regional authorities—including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and the Tees Valley—by amending their specific constitutive orders to permit certain allowance payments as exceptions to general prohibitions on member remuneration.
Arguments For
The order states that it enables combined authorities (CAs) and combined county authorities (CCAs) to pay allowances to members with special responsibilities.
The document indicates that requiring authorities to consider a report from an independent remuneration panel ensures that allowances do not exceed recommended levels.
Proponents argue that the order provides necessary consistency by specifying which panels are considered "relevant remuneration panels" under the 2009 and 2023 Acts.
The legislation framing suggests these amendments are required to align existing regional authority constitutions with new powers granted by the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars might note that the order relies on authorities establishing their own independent panels, which could lead to variations in remuneration standards across different regions.
Affected local authorities may face increased administrative burdens in establishing panels and drafting new allowance schemes.
Some observers might argue that the scope of the order is limited to members with "special responsibilities," leaving ambiguity regarding the remuneration of other members beyond travel and subsistence.
Critics of regional devolution might question the fiscal impact of enabling additional layers of allowances for local government officials.
Part 1
Introduction
Citation, commencement and extent
- -(1) This Order may be cited as the Combined Authorities and Combined County Authorities (Remuneration Panels for Member Allowances and Consequential Amendments) Order 2026.
- (2) This Order comes into force on 22nd July 2026.
- (3) This Order extends to England and Wales.
This section establishes the formal title of the statutory instrument and sets the date it becomes legally active as 22nd July 2026.
It further specifies that the legal reach of the order covers the jurisdictions of England and Wales.
Part 2
Relevant Remuneration Panels
Amendment of the Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) Order 2017
- -(1) The Combined Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Access to Information and Audit Committees) Order 2017( 4 ) is amended as follows.
(2) After article 17 (relevant remuneration panels in relation to payment of allowances to commissioners) insert-
' Relevant remuneration panels in relation to payment of allowances to members with special responsibilities
- An independent remuneration panel established by a combined authority or combined county authority, as the case may be, in accordance with article 16(1)(b) is specified as a relevant remuneration panel for the purposes of-
- (a) in relation to a combined authority, section 113E(8) of the 2009 Act;
- (b) in relation to a combined county authority, section 52A(8) of the 2023 Act.'.
This part designates specific independent remuneration panels as the authorized bodies for recommending member allowances.
It applies to panels already established by combined or combined county authorities for scrutiny and audit purposes, linking them to the statutory requirements of the 2009 and 2023 Acts.
Part 3
Consequential Amendments
Amendment of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order 2011
- -(1) The Greater Manchester Combined Authority Order 2011( 5 ) is amended as follows.
(2) In Schedule 1 (constitution) in paragraph 3C (remuneration and pensions)-
- (a) for sub-paragraph (1) substitute-
'(1) Save as provided for in sub-paragraphs (2) to (5), no remuneration is to be payable by the GMCA to its members or a member of a committee or sub-committee of the GMCA other than-
- (a) allowances for travel and subsistence;
- (b) allowances payable in accordance with a scheme made under section 113E of the 2009 Act.';
- (b) for sub-paragraph (1A) substitute-
'(1A) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) apply in relation to allowances payable other than those specified in sub-paragraph (1)(a) and (b).';
- (c) in sub-paragraph (2), for 'paragraph (3B)' substitute 'paragraph 3B';
- (d) for sub-paragraph (6) substitute-
'(6) In sub-paragraph (5), 'a relevant allowance' means-
(a) an allowance payable under sub-paragraph (2) to any person referred to in that sub-paragraph, which is not an allowance for travel and subsistence;
(b) an allowance payable in accordance with a scheme made under section 113E of the 2009 Act.'.
This section modifies the constitution of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to permit the payment of special responsibility allowances.
It clarifies that while general remuneration remains prohibited, travel, subsistence, and allowances approved under a statutory 2009 Act scheme are permitted.
Articles 4 through 21 [Summary of redundant constitutional amendments]: These articles apply near-identical constitutional amendments to the following authorities: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield; West Yorkshire; Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral; Tees Valley; West Midlands; West of England; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; York and North Yorkshire; East Midlands; North East Mayoral; Hull and East Yorkshire; Devon and Torbay; Greater Lincolnshire; Lancashire; Cumbria; Cheshire and Warrington; Sussex and Brighton; and Hampshire and the Solent.
These sections standardize the rules for remuneration across all listed UK combined and combined county authorities.
They ensure that each authority possesses the legal power to pay members for special responsibilities provided they follow a scheme authorized by the 2009 or 2023 Acts and the recommendations of an independent panel.
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