Councillors' allowances, expenses and training
The Local Government (Allowances and Expenses) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 provide the basis of the payment of allowances and expenses to our members who are elected at an ordinary election or by-election, and for the duration of their service in the office of councillor.
April 2025 - March 2026
A summary of Falkirk councillors' allowance and expenses
| Name | Designation | Salary | Expenses1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Aitchison | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Claire Aitken | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Margaret Anslow | Councillor | £25,982.04 | £89.10 | £26,071.14 |
| David Balfour | Senior Councillor (SC 3) | £28,542.96 | NIL | £28,542.96 |
| Lorna Binnie | Senior Councillor (SC 3) | £28,542.96 | £497.42 | £29,040.38 |
| Robert Bissett | Civic Head (Provost) | £37,548.00 | £374.95 | £37,922.95 |
| Gary Bouse | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | £34,049.04 | NIL | £34,049.04 |
| Claire Mackie Brown | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| William Buchanan | Councillor | £28,262.71 | NIL | £28,262.71 |
| James Bundy | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Fiona Collie | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | £34,049.04 | NIL | £34,049.04 |
| Bryan Deakin | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | £34,049.04 | NIL | £34,049.04 |
| Stacey Devine | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | £34,049.04 | NIL | £34,049.04 |
| Jim Flynn | Councillor | £25,982.04 | £664.49 | £26,646.53 |
| Gordon Forrest | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Paul Garner | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | £34,049.04 | NIL | £34,049.04 |
| Anne Hannah | Senior Councillor (SC 2) | £30,519.00 | NIL | £30,519.00 |
| Alf Kelly | Senior Councillor (SC 2) | £27,809.43 | NIL | £27,809.43 |
| James Kerr | Senior Councillor (SC 2) | £30,519.00 | NIL | £30,519.00 |
| Brian McCabe | Councillor | £25,982.04 | £633.15 | £26,615.19 |
| Cecil Meiklejohn | Leader of the Council | £50,063.04 | £156.30 | £50,219.34 |
| Laura Murtagh | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Alan Nimmo | Councillor | £27,525.13 | £212.72 | £27,737.85 |
| Siobhan Paterson | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Sarah Patrick | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Jack Redmond | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Ann Ritchie | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Jim Robertson | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
| Iain Sinclair | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | £34,049.04 | NIL | £34,049.04 |
| Robert Spears | Councillor | £25,982.04 | NIL | £25,982.04 |
1 A detailed breakdown of expenses (travel, subsistence, ICT, and other expenses) claimed can be found in the download section.
Notes
Under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 (Remuneration) Regulations 2007 as amended, there are 4 levels of remuneration payments for councillors, covering the following positions:
- Civic Head (Provost) (CH)
- Leader of Council (L)
- Senior Councillors (SC), and
- Councillors (C)
Except for Senior Councillors, the level of remuneration is set in the Regulations. Councils have a degree of discretion in setting the number of, and remuneration for, Senior Councillors within certain parameters. Falkirk Council has set 3 levels for Senior Councillors.
SC 1: £34,049.04
- Portfolio Holders
SC 2: £30,519.00
- Conveners of Planning, Civic Licensing and Licensing Board
- Leader of Labour Group
SC 3: £28,542.96
- Depute Provost, Convener of Pensions
- Leader of Conservative Group
A summary of expenses met by the Council
| Name | Designation | Travel | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Aitchison | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Claire Aitken | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Margaret Anslow | Councillor | £56.26 | NIL | £56.26 |
| David Balfour | Senior Councillor (SC 3) | £184.66 | NIL | £184.66 |
| Lorna Binnie | Senior Councillor (SC 3) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Robert Bissett | Civic Head (Provost) | £1,140.62 | NIL | £1,140.62 |
| Gary Bouse | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Claire Mackie Brown | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| William Buchanan | Councillor | £159.39 | NIL | £159.39 |
| James Bundy | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Fiona Collie | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Bryan Deakin | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Stacey Devine | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Jim Flynn | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Gordon Forrest | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Paul Garner | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Anne Hannah | Senior Councillor (SC 2) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Alf Kelly | Senior Councillor (SC 2) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| James Kerr | Senior Councillor (SC 2) | £284.57 | NIL | £284.57 |
| Brian McCabe | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Cecil Meiklejohn | Leader of the Council | £186.37 | NIL | £186.37 |
| Laura Murtagh | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Alan Nimmo | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Siobhan Paterson | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Sarah Patrick | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Jack Redmond | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Ann Ritchie | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Jim Robertson | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Iain Sinclair | Senior Councillor (SC 1) | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Robert Spears | Councillor | NIL | NIL | NIL |
| Subtotal | £2,011.87 | NIL | £2,011.87 | |
| Civic Officer & Vehicle | £2,323.53 | NIL | £2,323.53 | |
| Total | £4,335.40 | NIL | £4,335.40 |
Notes
Falkirk Council has one civic vehicle for use by councillors in undertaking their approved duties, where considered appropriate. The amount reported includes estimated running cost of the civic vehicle, together with a proportionate allocation of Civic Officer salary cost for the undertaking of civic and approved duties.
For further information visit Councillors' roles, conduct and pay.
Data download
Disaggregated data on councillors' allowances, expenses and training from the current and previous years is available for download.