Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of the Cheshire East Council Scheme of Members’ Allowances 2009/10 following a mid-year review held on 8^th January 2010.    

The Committee considered the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of the Cheshire East Council Scheme of Members’ Allowances 2009/10 following a mid-year review held on 8^th January 2010.

The Panel had proposed a number of amendments to the current Scheme, as well as the adoption of a draft Guide to Members’ Allowances.

One of the Panel’s recommendations was that Members’ allowances be not increased with effect from 1^st April 2010 but that the position be reviewed following agreement of the Local Government Employers pay award to Local Government employees for 2010/2011.

Members commented on the Panel’s recommendation not to increase allowances from 1^st April, and upon the rising costs incurred by Members and their increasing workloads. They asked that the Panel be invited to conduct a survey of Cheshire East Members with a view to gaining a fuller understanding of their work and responsibilities, and the costs incurred by them in performing their duties, so as to enable the Panel to make an informed judgement on Member allowances.

RESOLVED

That Council be recommended that

(1)   (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;                                                        

(d)    the Scheme of Member Allowances as amended be adopted;

(2)   subject to (1) above, the Guide to Members’ Allowances 2010/2011 be approved and adopted with effect from 1 April 2010; and

(3)   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.