“Scandalous” admission of zero-hours councillors
24/02/2026
Former leader urges member training so members know it is not acceptable
Six of the councillors elected to represent local people at Cherwell District Council say they don’t spend any time each month working on council business.
The shocking statistic was revealed as part of a survey of councillors detailed in a report into setting their allowances.
Former Council Leader Barry Wood described the situation as “scandalous”.
Just over half of those elected to serve as councillors responded to the survey, which was considered by members of the council’s Independent Remuneration Panel.
The panel recommended allowances be increased in line with the yet-to-be agreed 2026/2027 staff pay award. A 2.5 percent increase was used to provide examples with a basic allowance increasing from £5,220 to £5,352 annually. Those with positions of responsibility were entitled to more, with the council leader’s allowance increasing from £16,596 to £17,016.
During a debate on the proposed increases Councillor Wood attacked those who were failing to fulfil their roles properly. He said: “What sort of message does that pass to the electorate? And what sort of message does it pass to us who say, ‘oh well, blanket allowances, yes, yes, all those in favour’.
“And some of our colleagues do not spend any time on council work at all? For me, that is scandalous…
“I hope that the leader or the proposer will pass comment on that and consider asking officers to build into training programmes for members you do not do nothing to be a member of this council.”
Other councillors responded, suggesting the response may have been an anomaly. Current Leader David Hingley told the meeting he spent “considerably more” hours on council work than zero.
The survey showed that half of the councillors spent more than 30 hours each month on council business with one completing in excess of 100 hours.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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