Agenda item

Referral from Constitution Committee - Scheme of Members' Allowances: Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Minutes:

The Constitution Committee, at its meeting on 23 January 2014, had considered the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on its review of Members’ allowances and resolved that the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel be noted and referred to Council for consideration, together with a summary of the questions asked by Members and answers provided by the Chairman of the Panel at the meeting.

 

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Strategic Communities Portfolio Holder, Councillor David Brown made a speech to Council on behalf of the Leader of the Council, who had left the meeting in order to attend a meeting with a Government Minister. The speech explained the proposals which were being made to Council in respect of each of the recommendations, which were circulated around the Chamber. The proposals made are set out below. These proposals were formally proposed by Cllr Brown and seconded by Cllr Newton:-

(Using same paragraph numbering as IRP recommendations)

Summary of Panel Recommendation

Proposal to Council

1.Basic Allowance to remain unchanged

To remain the same as the existing Scheme, this to increase in line with RPI until such time as reviewed again.

2.SRAs for Cabinet Members, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of committees etc be categorised in order of importance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That the posts of Cabinet Support Member and PDG Chairmen and Vice Chairmen be removed from the Scheme

The recommended categorising of Cabinet Member and committee roles be not agreed.

 

 

 

 

 

The existing “gearing” of SRAs to the Basic Allowance be discontinued.

 

Remove the allowance for Vice Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees and the Staffing Committee.

 

Retain existing allowances for Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees and the Staffing Committee, and for Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of: Licensing Committee, Audit and Governance Committee, Northern and Southern Planning Committees, Strategic Planning Board, Constitution Committee and Public Rights of Way Committee.

 

Except for the Leader, agree to reduce Cabinet Member allowances by £500.

 

 

 

 

Retain SRAs for Cabinet Support Members and PDG Chairmen/Vice Chairmen pending the PDG/Scrutiny Review and a pending review of executive responsibilities.

 

3. Reduction in allowances of Leader, Deputy, Main Opposition Group Leader and Minority Group Leader.  Removal of Main Opposition Group Deputy Leader allowance if Group numbers reduce to 20% of Council membership.

 

Removal of Minority Group Leader allowance if Group numbers reduce to 10% of Council membership.

Agree to reduce allowance of Leader by £1000.  Retain existing allowances of Main Opposition Group Leader and Minority Group Leaders, so long as Group membership is x4 or more.

Reduce Deputy Leader’s SRA by £500 (as per above).

Retain existing allowance for Main Opposition Group Deputy Leader, so long as Group membership is x4 or more.

 

 

Retain existing allowances for Minority Group Leaders, so long as Group membership is x4 or more.

4.Removal of allowances for Whips

Pending future review, retain the allowances for Administration Whip, Deputy Administration Whip and Opposition Whips.

5.Car mileage allowance: no change recommended

Introduce a recommended mileage rate of 45p per mile.

6.Members should inform officers when attendance at events is confirmed so that the lowest travel costs can be secured.

Panel’s recommendation-agreed.

7.Current allowances for bicycles, car parking, motorcycles, taxis etc remain unchanged.

Panel’s recommendation-agreed.

8.Minimal changes recommended to be made to subsistence allowances.

Panel’s recommendations-agreed.

9.Small increase in overnight accommodation recommended.

Panel’s recommendations-agreed.

10.Recommended separation of Dependants’ Carers’ Allowances into child care and adults/children with disabilities, and/or special needs.

 

Recommended allowance limit of £4000 (child care) and £6000 adults/children.

Retain existing provisions for Dependants’ Carers’ Allowances.

11.Recommended that co-optees should be entitled to claim travel and subsistence allowances.

Panel’s recommendations-agreed.

12.No change recommended to claims for out of pocket expenses.

Panel’s recommendations-agreed.

13.No change recommended to claims for broadband

Panel’s recommendations-agreed.

 

RESOLVED

That the above proposals in respect of the Scheme of Members' Allowances be adopted and incorporated into the Council’s Scheme of Members’ Allowances, with effect from 1st April 2014, as required by Regulations, but with the changes to the allowances themselves being implemented under the scheme with effect from the date of the Annual Council meeting.

Supporting documents: