Decision details

Consideration was given to the recommendations of the Governance and Constitution Committee in respect of the Cheshire East Council Scheme of Members’ Allowances 2009/10, following the mid-year review by the Independent Remuneration Panel, held on 8 January 2010.

RESOLVED

1. That subject to the following amendments, the Scheme of Member Allowances be

     adopted :-

(a) save as below, no increase be applied to the 2009/2010 rates

 fixed  by the Cheshire East Council Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2010/2011 with effect from 1 April 2010;

      (b)  the position be reviewed following agreement of the Local

            Government Employers pay award to Local Government employees

            for 2010/2011;

      (c)  the following statements be incorporated into the Scheme:  

(i)     the rate applicable to Subsistence claims made in respect of  attendance at the Local Government Association (LGA) Annual Conference to be the rate applied to London and abroad, irrespective of where in the UK the event is held;

(ii)   where elected Members are billed directly for a broadband/telephone line used or partly used for the purpose of carrying out Council duties, the associated line rental cost be reclaimable from the Members’ Allowances Scheme on submission of a bill;

(iii)  where a Member is acting in an official capacity at an event as the  

       Council’s representative, travel allowance will be paid. Travel and 

       subsistence allowance may also be claimed where a Member is

       contributing to the business of a meeting in any of the following

       capacities:

?       as a member of the body

?       as a substitute for a member of the body

?       as a local ward member in attendance for an agenda item

?       having registered to speak

?       being required to give evidence

?       being expected to attend, eg Cabinet Members attending scrutiny meetings, Group Whips attending Governance and Constitution Committee Briefings, scrutiny chairmen and spokesmen attending Cabinet and Portfolio Holder meetings.

(iv)      the right to Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowance  

       and Travel and Subsistence Allowance may be withdrawn by the Council while a Councillor is suspended or partially suspended from his/her responsibilities or duties as a member of the Council as a result of a breach of the Members’ Code of Conduct in accordance with Part III of the Local Government Act 2000 or Regulations made under that Part; 

2.            That, subject  to 1 above, the Guide to Members’ Allowances

         2010/2011 be approved and adopted, with effect from 1 April 2010. 

3.     That the  Independent Remuneration Panel be invited to conduct a

         survey of the work of Cheshire East Members to help inform the

         Panel’s future recommendations on Member allowances.