All
local authorities in the United Kingdom are overseen by elected councillors. These include: •
unitary authorities •
county councils and
district councils •
parish,
town and
community councils • The
Common Council of the City of London (in which councillors are known as aldermen and councilmen) In 2007 the
Electoral Administration Act 2006 reduced the age limit for councillors to 18, leading to younger people standing.
Youth councillors Youth councillors are also elected in local areas by organisations that are members of the British Youth Council, such as Salford Youth Council.
Remuneration Most councillors are not full-time professionals. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland most larger borough, unitary authority or county councils do pay them basic allowances and
out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, special responsibility allowances are paid to councillors who carry out more senior duties. The basic allowances and special responsibility allowances are theoretically paid to compensate councillors for time spent on council duties and are classed as salaries for tax purposes. Parish, town or community councillors may, since the
Local Government Act 2000, be paid for their services. In Scotland, since 2007, councillors have received a salary of £15,000, as opposed to a series of allowances. This rises annually and as of 1 April 2023 councillor pay in Scotland stands at £20,099 per annum. These are often topped up by special responsibility allowances.
Regional government The
London Assembly is regarded not as a local authority but as a regional
devolved assembly and its members are referred to as Assembly Members, not councillors. ==United States==