Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations of the Corporate Policy Committee.

The Corporate Policy Committee at its meeting on 8 June had considered a report of the Independent Renumeration Panel, and the recommendations of a Working Group appointed to consider these recommendations, and had made recommendations to Council.

The recommendations of the Corporate Policy Committee were moved and seconded. 

During debate an amendment was proposed:

“That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel be adopted to take effect from the start of the 2021/22 municipal year, as stated in the Independent Remuneration Panel Report subject to the following:

1. There be no uplifting of the basic allowance in 2021/22

2. In future years, starting 2022/23, member allowances continue to be uprated in line with the NJC officers pay award.

3. the following allowances be continued as recommended 2021/22 but be reviewed for 2022/23:

a) the Scrutiny Committee Chair’s Allowance, which should be reviewed in the light of the workload of that committee and that this be reported back to Council in November as part of the Constitution Review; and

b) the civic allowances for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

4. That the Independent Remuneration Panel meet again in early 2022 to review its recommendations in the light of the Council’s experience of the new arrangements.  (IRP Report page 265, para 5.11).”

The amendment was moved, seconded, and debated.  The amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

The substantive recommendations were put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel be adopted to take effect from the start of the 2021/22 municipal year subject to the following:

1             there be no uprating of the basic allowance in 2021/22;

2             in future years, starting in 2022/23, member allowances continue to be uprated in line with the NJC officers pay award;

3             the allowance for vice-chairs of service committees be increased to £6,000;

4             the whips allowances be replaced with a group administrator allowance paid at £3,825 to the administrator of any group with at least 10 members and £1,766 to the administrator of any group with at least 4 members but fewer than 10;

5             no allowance be paid for opposition spokespersons;

6             the following allowances be continued as recommended for 2021/22 but be reviewed for 2022/23:

a.      the Scrutiny Committee chair’s allowance, which should be reviewed in the light of the workload of that committee and this be reported back to Council in November as part of the constitution review; and

b.      the civic allowances for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Committee considered the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on members’ allowances.

A working group of members had been appointed to consider the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and had met on 26th May 2021. The Chair of the working group was Councillor M Warren. Councillor Warren circulated a set of his recommendations at the Committee’s meeting.

With regard to a recommendation that there be no uprating of the basic allowance in 2021/22, the working group had agreed that in future years, starting in 2022/23, member allowances should continue to be uprated in line with the NJC officers pay award.

RESOLVED

That the Committee recommends to Council that the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel be adopted to take effect from the start of the 2021/22 municipal year subject to the following:

1.    there be no uprating of basic allowance in 2021/22;

2.    in future years, starting in 2022/23, member allowances continue to be uprated in line with the NJC officers pay award;

3.    the allowance for vice-chairs of service committees be increased to £6,000;

4.    the whips’ allowances be replaced with a group administrator allowance paid at £3,825 to the administrator of any group with at least 10 members and £1,766 to the administrator of any group with at least 4 members but fewer than 10;

5.    no allowance be paid for opposition spokespersons;

6.    the following allowances be continued as recommended for 2021/22 but be reviewed for 2022/23:

a.    the Scrutiny Committee chair’s allowance, which should be reviewed in the light of the workload of that committee and this be reported back to Council in November as part of the constitution review; and

b.    the civic allowances for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.