Councillor Allowances and Increasing Workloads

Casting an eye over the supplementary report into why councillors basic allowances in Brent are being increased so much I read this paragraph:

Having reviewed the basic allowance recommended as a result of the 2018 independent review (£11,045) and taken account of the increased workload and responsibilities now placed on Members, it is proposed that the level of basic allowance for Members in the 2018/19 Scheme should be increased to £12,000. It is felt this will better reflect the increasingly complex nature of the role Members are required to fulfil alongside the increased demands on their time and expectations in relation to their representational role.

I genuinely can't think of any additional workload that councillors are expected to take up that wasn't already assumed for the past several years.  Indeed, I would think that the political culture of Brent appears to be moving towards councillors doing rather less.