Independent Remuneration Panel
Minutes:
33.1 The Chair invited the Corporate Manager, Governance and Civic Office to introduce report BC/22/31 on behalf of the Independent Remuneration Panel.
33.2 The Corporate Manager, Governance and Civic Office introduced the report and explained the Panel’s process and other key information in the report.
33.3 The Chair PROPOSED the recommendations in the report which were SECONDED by Councillor Jan Osborne.
33.4 Councillor Ward PROPOSED amendments to the recommendations which were detailed in Appendix F of the report and explained the reasoning behind the suggested amendments which were the result of the deliberations of a cross party working group. The amendments were SECONDED by Councillor Hinton.
33.5 The amendments to the recommendations were accepted by Councillor Grandon and Councillor Jan Osborne. By a unanimous vote, the amended recommendations were accepted.
33.6 Councillors debated the key points in the report and amended recommendations including the timing of the implementation of the revised members allowance scheme, the need to have relevant allowances to encourage more people to become councillors, the implementation of a childcare and dependents allowance and the formulation of a parental leave policy.
33.7 By a vote of 15 votes for and 1 abstention,
It was RESOLVED:-
1.1a That the Basic (Ward Representation) Allowance be set at £6,510.
1.1b That the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) be set at:-
Role |
Amount |
Chairman of the Council |
£6,510 |
Deputy Chairman of the Council |
£3,255 |
Leader of Council |
£16,275 |
Deputy Leader of the Council |
£8,137 |
Chair of Planning Committee |
£6,510 |
Vice-Chair of Planning Committee |
£3,255 |
Chair of the Joint Scrutiny Committee |
£6,510 |
Vice Chair of the Joint Scrutiny Committee |
£3,255 |
Chair of Joint Audit and Standards Committee |
£3,255 |
Planning Committee Members |
£814 |
Political Group Leaders 5 or more members |
£4,882 |
Political Group Leaders less than 5 members |
£1,627 |
Chair of Regulatory Committee |
£3,255 |
Vice Chair of Regulatory Committee |
£1,627 |
Cabinet Member with Portfolio |
£8,137 |
Cabinet Member without Portfolio |
£3,255 |
Lead Member |
£4,882 |
1.1c That no Councillor will be entitled to claim more than two SRA’s
1.1d That the Travel and Subsistence Allowance be set as the maximum levels payable to council staff in line with HM Revenue advertised Customs’ rates. Currently at:-
Mileage Rate 45p per mile
Cycle Mileage Rate 27.7p per mile
Passenger Allowance 5p per mile
1.1e That the Childcare and Dependants Allowance be set at:-
Childcare Allowance up to £13 per hour (subject to a receipt)
Dependants Relative Care/Specialist Nursing Care Allowance up to £30 per hour (subject to a receipt)
With no cap on the maximum amount you can claim per month for approved duties.
1.2 That the revised Members Allowance Scheme will take effect from 8th May 2023.
1.3 That the revised Basic Allowance be increased in line with the Local Government Officer pay awards until the scheme is next reviewed in 2026 or earlier. If future officer pay award was to be in the form of a lump sum the increase would be calculated by establishing the percentage increase of the lump sum using the council’s average officer wage.
1.4 That a Parental Leave policy be formulated on the principles set out in the Panel’s report and brought back to Council for approval.
1.5 That a revised Members Allowances Scheme incorporating the decisions of the Council be prepared by the Monitoring Officer. Further, that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any typographical and other minor/consequential amendments prior to publication of the final document.
1.6 That the Council formally records its thanks to the Independent Remuneration Panel for their work in preparing the report.
Supporting documents: