Monitoring Officer
Minutes:
75.1 The Corporate Manager for Governance and Civic Office introduced the report and informed Council that the current panel had been appointed in 2016 and had now reached the end of their term. Under the Local Authorities (Members Allowances England) Regulations 2003 the Council was required to establish and maintain a Panel known as the Independent Remuneration Panel to make recommendations for amendments to the Members Allowances Scheme.
75.2 Council was being asked to approve the formal appointment of the recommended Panel members for four years with an option to extend this for another 4 years and to confirm the fee payable for each review and the payment of reasonable expenses.
75.3 Councillor Ward MOVED the recommendations in the report which Councillor Davis SECONDED.
75.4 Councillor Hinton sought details on where the Panel members resided as he felt it was impossible to understand what would be regarded as reasonable expenses.
75.5 In response the Corporate Manager for Governance and Civic Office confirmed that 3 of the proposed Panel members lived within the districts. However, as the meetings would be held virtually it was envisaged that expenses would be minimal.
75.6 Councillor Lindsay queried how often a review would be carried out. In response the Corporate Manager for Governance and Civic Office stated that the allowances should be reviewed at least every four years but normally there was between one and two reviews each election term. This could be more or less depending on whether there were changes to governance or legislation where the role of Councillors could be expanded or even retracted.
75.7 Councillor Malvisi queried how many terms the panel had already undertaken.
75.8 In response the Corporate Manager for Civic and Governance confirmed that this was a totally new panel that had not undertaken any previous reviews.
75.9 The Chair then invited Councillors to debate the recommendations.
75.10 Councillors raised the following points in debate:-
Councillor Arthey hoped that Members would pay due regard to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and paid tribute to the Leader and the extremely long hours he put into the role.
Councillor Lindsay felt that the timing of the review was key and that recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel should be taken to Council and voted on before the end of the current Councillors’ terms of office ready for new Councillors.
Councillor Hinton agreed with Councillor Lindsay that the timing of the review was key, as he felt that any proposals could be politicised and stated that it was important that the independence of the Independent Remuneration Panel was well publicised.
Councillor Davis stated that it was important that all Councillors engaged in the process.
Councillor Maybury felt that the previous review had been politicised as some Councillors had not wanted to give any increases in allowances to Cabinet.
Councillor McCraw stated that the Independent Remuneration Panel should be allowed to do their job without it being politicised.
It was RESOLVED:-
1. That the following persons be appointed to the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel:
· Amanda Orchard
· Sarah Way
· Monica Calbio
· John Clough
· Sue Putters
2. That the IRP members each be paid £500 for each review carried out and be reimbursed any expenses reasonably incurred in the performance of their duties.
3. That the IRP be appointed for a period of 4 years with the option to extend this for another period of 4 years if required.
Supporting documents: