Issue - meetings

To consider an addendum to the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel submitted to the Constitution Committee on 27^th January 2011, following a meeting between the Panel and the Council’s Political Group Leaders on 2^nd March 2011.

The Committee considered a further report of the Independent Remuneration Panel following a meeting between the Panel and the Council’s political leaders on 2^nd March 2011.

The Panel had submitted its final report to the meeting of the Constitution

Committee on 27^th January 2011 (Appendix 1). Having debated the report

the Committee had resolved that:  

“The Independent Remuneration Panel be thanked for its report which is noted, and the Panel be invited to meet with the Council’s political leaders and Group Whips to discuss the recommendations in the report.”

The report summarised the discussion which had taken place on 2^nd March and set out the recommendations of the Panel as amended in the light of that discussion.      

RESOLVED

That the Independent Remuneration Panel be thanked for its further consideration of the Member Allowances Scheme and the Panel’s recommended changes to the Scheme as set out below be recommended to Council for adoption and implementation with effect from the beginning of the next municipal year:

1)        The Cheshire East Scheme of Members’ Allowances should make provision for the Independent Remuneration Panel to review, on an annual basis, the current Scheme’s allowances and recommend whether any adjustments were appropriate;

2)        The level of Basic Allowance for 2011/2012 should not be increased and remain at the same level awarded in the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2010/2011; 

3)        Except as provided for in recommendations 4 (a) - (c) in respect of the role of Vice-Chairmen, the level of remuneration in respect of Special Responsibility Allowances, Subsistence Allowances, Co-opted Member Allowance, Dependent Carer’s Allowance, Broadband/Line Rental fees and Members’ Surgery fees for 2011/2012 should not be increased and remain at the same level awarded in the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2010/2011; 

4a)                  Special Responsibility Allowances for the post of Vice Chairman be retained within the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2011/2012;

4b)      The role of Vice Chairman of Constitution Committee and Vice Chairman of Audit and Governance Committee be included in the Schedule of Special Responsibility Allowances appended to the 2011/2012 Scheme of Members’ Allowances;  

4c)      A Special Responsibility Allowance of £1,000 per annum be awarded to the Vice Chairman posts included in Schedule 1 of the 2011/2012 Scheme of Members Allowances, with an additional £50 payable for each meeting chaired up to an accumulated maximum total of £1,500 per annum;

5a)       The role of Chairman of Constitution Committee and Chairman of Audit and Governance Committee be included in the Schedule of Special Responsibility Allowances appended to the 2011/2012 Scheme of Members’ Allowances ;

5b&c)A gearing equivalent to 0.65 of Basic Allowance be applied to the post; the position to be kept under review; 

6)        The level of Travel Allowances for 2011/2012 should not be increased and should remain at the same level awarded in the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2010/2011; except for car mileage rates which are to remain linked to the amounts payable to officers in accordance with the National Joint Council for Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55