WYCHAVON councillors are supporting a proposal that the authority sets its own travel and subsistence allowances, based on the recommendations of an independent panel.

At a meeting of the full council, members approved a draft response to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR).

The department has been seeking the views of local authorities as part of its consultation process on the issue.

Under the Local Government Act 2000 and associated regulations, local authorities are required to set up independent remuneration panels to review members' allowance schemes, before any new arrangements come into operation.

Wychavon District Council, Worcester City Council and Malvern Hills District Council are setting up a panel, in line with the regulations.

The new legislation enables the Secretary of State for the DTLR to make regulations changing the existing system for setting allowances.

Changes on which the department is consulting relate to travel, subsistence and other allowances, as well as pensions for elected members of local authorities.

Wychavon's response to the DTLR backs the principle of each local authority determining its own travel and subsistence rates, in line with independent panel guidelines.

It also supports the introduction of a cycling allowance, although that would be based on more details of how it would operate.

The prospect of elected members being eligible for pension payments also has the support of Wychavon members, with a system based on total payments made, maybe connected with hours worked, rather than holding a particular position.

Wychavon's councillors are also keen that members of all types of local authorities should be treated equally and that the independent remuneration panel should not play a part in deciding which members should be eligible for such pension payments.

The council's response has to be submitted to the DTLR by October 26.