HEREFORDSHIRE councillors have been “underpaid” over the past five years and the money will be made good to winners and losers alike after next Thursday’s election.

The Hereford Times has learned that an administration error only just identified shows an annual uplift of allowances councillors can claim has not applied since 2011 – the year of the last council election .

An e-mail sent to members from the chief executive’s office says the error was revealed in a review of levels of remuneration for members to be recommended to the new council later this month.

The uplift councillors were entitled to was in line  with the local government services pay award.

Two pay awards have taken place since 2011, a one per cent increase effective from April 1, 2013 and a  2.2% increase effective from  January 1 this year.

In the e-mail, chief executive Alistair Neill offers apologies to members and an assurance that “processes have been put in place to prevent this happening again in future”.

The council is now making arrangements to make good on any underpayments as a result of the error in time for the next allowances payment.

Each member is to receive a letter confirming the effect on their payments.

Figures from the council’s 2013-14 statement of accounts show £643,000 worth of allowances were paid to councillors over that financial year..

 The sum breaks down to:

- Basic allowances: £421,000

- Special allowances: £186,000

- Travel and subsistence: £36,000.

Each member currently receives  a basic allowance of around £7,200 and claims can be made for designated special responsibilities as well as for travel, food and computer and telephone bills.

In 2013,  councillors overwhelmingly rejected a 10 per cent cut in allowances proposed by two first term members as a contribution to identified budget savings.

Herefordshire councillors have consistently claimed that they receive far less than the national average in carrying out their roles.