Agenda item

The report presents the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (CC13) following a recent full review of the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme. 

 

The last full review of the allowances agreed by Members was in January 2011. The Autumn 2013 review was more narrow, the Panel having been asked to consider the impact of the Governance changes.  This was agreed by Council in April 2014.  The Council has now asked the Independent Remuneration Panel to carry out a full review.

 

(1)       The Council is RECOMMENDED to consider the following recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and in so doing agree a Scheme of Allowances:

 

(a)          the Basic Allowance payable to all councillors increase from £8,376 to £10,000;

(b)          in addition to the Basic Allowance, a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) be paid as follows:-

(1)          Leader of the Council – increase to £29,000

 

(2)          Deputy Leader of the Council – increase to £20,000

 

(3)          Cabinet Members – increase to £16,000

 

(4)          Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – increase to £6,000

(5)          Deputy Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – no allowance

(6)          Chairmen of Planning & Regulation Committee – increase to £6000

(7)          Deputy Chairman of Planning & Regulation Committee – no allowance

(8)          Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – increase to £6,000

(9)          Deputy Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – no allowance

(10)       Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – increase to £6,000

(11)       Deputy Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – no allowance

(12)       Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

(13)       Deputy Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

(14)       Chairman of the Council – increase to £8,500

(15)       Vice-Chairman of the Council – increase to £2125

(16)       Leader of the Opposition – reduce to £8,000

(17)       Other Shadow Cabinet Members – restore allowance - £2,500

(18)       Locality Meeting Chairman – remain at £500

(19)       Police and Crime Panel member - remain at £1,515

(20)       Police and Crime Panel Chairman - remain at £3,030

(21)       Police and Crime Panel Vice-Chairman - £3,500

(c)          the Council does not establish a general co-optees allowance;

(d)          a co-optees’ allowance continues to be payable to an independent co-opted member of the Audit & Governance Committee when the co-opted member serves as Chairman of the Audit Working Group;

(e)          the Council’s Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances and the Co-optees’ Allowance to the Chairman of the Audit Working Group be amended annually by reference to the annual Local Government Pay Award for staff and that this should take effect from the date on which the award for staff similarly takes effect;

(f)           that Child and Dependant’s Carer’s Allowances be paid on the basis that:-

Members with care responsibilities in respect of dependent children under 16: or dependent adults certified by a doctor or social worker as needing attendance, will be reimbursed, on production of valid receipts, for actual payments to a carer while the member is on Council duties, up to a maximum of £6per hour for each dependent child or £17 per hour for an adult.  Money paid to a member of the claimant member’s household will not be reimbursed;

(g)          the Council retains, for members, the travel and subsistence scheme that is applicable to officers. Overnight accommodation to be booked by officers where possible; when alternative accommodation arrangements are to be used, this should be approved by the relevant officer;

(h)          claims made under the Council’s travel and subsistence scheme be accompanied by receipts and/or any other relevant evidence of the costs incurred and that claims under the scheme be made, in writing, within two months of the relevant duty in respect of which the entitlement to the allowance arises;

(i)            list of Approved Duties include the capacity for leaders of a political group to claim for attending formal meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees for the purpose of keeping themselves informed of business;

(j)            the list of Approved Duties for the purpose of travel, subsistence and dependent care allowances continue and be agreed as set out in the attached Annex;

(k)          the amounts for Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowances and Co-optees’ Allowances be rounded to the nearest pound following the application of any index;

 

(2)       The Scheme of Allowances to apply from 1 April 2015.

The Council had before them a report (CC13) which presented the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel following a recent full review of the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme. 

 

The last full review of the allowances agreed by Members had been in January 2011. The Autumn 2013 review was more narrow, the Panel having been asked to consider the impact of the Governance changes.  This was agreed by Council in April 2014.  The Council had now asked the Independent Remuneration Panel to carry out a full review.

 

Councillor Hudspeth moved and Councillor Rose seconded the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

 

Councillor Brighouse moved and Councillor Christie seconded the following amendment shown in bold italics and strikethrough:

 

(1)       The Council is RECOMMENDED to consider the following recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and in so doing agree a Scheme of Allowances: Council notes the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and asks the Audit and Governance Committee to consider the demographic imbalance of the Council and ways this might be changed.

1.            the Basic Allowance payable to all councillors increase from £8,376 to £10,000;

2.            in addition to the Basic Allowance, a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) be paid as follows:-

1.            Leader of the Council – increase to £29,000

 

2.            Deputy Leader of the Council – increase to £20,000

 

3.            Cabinet Members – increase to £16,000

 

4.            Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – increase to £6,000

5.            Deputy Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – no allowance

6.            Chairmen of Planning & Regulation Committee – increase to £6000

7.            Deputy Chairman of Planning & Regulation Committee – no allowance

8.            Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – increase to £6,000

9.            Deputy Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – no allowance

10.         Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – increase to £6,000

11.         Deputy Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – no allowance

12.         Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

13.         Deputy Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

14.         Chairman of the Council – increase to £8,500

15.         Vice-Chairman of the Council – increase to £2125

16.         Leader of the Opposition – reduce to £8,000

17.         Other Shadow Cabinet Members – restore allowance - £2,500

18.         Locality Meeting Chairman – remain at £500

19.         Police and Crime Panel member - remain at £1,515

20.         Police and Crime Panel Chairman - remain at £3,030

21.         Police and Crime Panel Vice-Chairman - £3,500

3.            the Council does not establish a general co-optees allowance;

4.            a co-optees’ allowance continues to be payable to an independent co-opted member of the Audit & Governance Committee when the co-opted member serves as Chairman of the Audit Working Group;

5.            the Council’s Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances and the Co-optees’ Allowance to the Chairman of the Audit Working Group be amended annually by reference to the annual Local Government Pay Award for staff and that this should take effect from the date on which the award for staff similarly takes effect;

6.            that Child and Dependant’s Carer’s Allowances be paid on the basis that:-

Members with care responsibilities in respect of dependent children under 16: or dependent adults certified by a doctor or social worker as needing attendance, will be reimbursed, on production of valid receipts, for actual payments to a carer while the member is on Council duties, up to a maximum of £6 per hour for each dependent child or £17 per hour for an adult. Money paid to a member of the claimant member’s household will not be reimbursed;

7.            the Council retains, for members, the travel and subsistence scheme that is applicable to officers. Overnight accommodation to be booked by officers where possible; when alternative accommodation arrangements are to be used, this should be approved by the relevant officer;

8.            claims made under the Council’s travel and subsistence scheme be accompanied by receipts and/or any other relevant evidence of the costs incurred and that claims under the scheme be made, in writing, within two months of the relevant duty in respect of which the entitlement to the allowance arises;

9.            list of Approved Duties include the capacity for leaders of a political group to claim for attending formal meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees for the purpose of keeping themselves informed of business;

10.         the list of Approved Duties for the purpose of travel, subsistence and dependent care allowances continue and be agreed as set out in the attached Annex;

11.         the amounts for Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowances and Co-optees’ Allowances be rounded to the nearest pound following the application of any index;

 

(2)       The Scheme of Allowances to apply from 1 April 2015.

 

7 Members by standing in their places required a named vote in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.4.1. Voting was as follows:

 

Councillors voting for the motion (17)

 

Councillors J. Sanders, Lygo, Dhesi, Curran, Brighouse, Christie, Hards, Price, Beal, Phillips, G. Sanders, Pressel, Tanner, Cherry, Harris, Williams, Coates;

 

Councillors voting against the motion (43)

 

Councillors Purse, Carter, Tilley, Heathcoat, Stratford, Rose, Hudspeth, Waine, Constance, Hoare, Bartholomew, Bulmer, Mrs Fulljames, Lilly, Lindsay-Gale, Nimmo Smith, Hibbert-Biles, Fatemian, Owen, Langridge, Mathew, Patrick, Godden, Greene, Hallchurch, Gearing, Wilmshurst, Lovatt, Johnston, Hannaby, Howson, Rooke, Harrod, Handley, Chapman, Billington, Reynolds, Mallon, Fooks, Webber, Sibley, Atkins, Gray;

 

Councillors Abstaining (1)

 

Councillor Fawcett.

 

It was accordingly lost by 43 votes to 17, with 1 abstention.

 

Councillor David Williams then moved and Councillor Coates seconded the following amendment shown in bold italics and strikethrough:

 

The Council is RECOMMENDED to consider the following recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and in so doing agree a scheme of allowances:

 

All allowances should rise in line with the percentage increases envisaged for average Council employees . (ie a rise of below 2% ) for 2015 -2016 . A further report be brought back to Council that illustrates that scale of increases in the categories identified in the Councillors Remuneration Report as items (a) to (k)

 

(1)       The Council is RECOMMENDED to consider the following recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and in so doing agree a Scheme of Allowances:

 

(a)          the Basic Allowance payable to all councillors increase from £8,376 to £10,000;

(b)          in addition to the Basic Allowance, a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) be paid as follows:-

(1)          Leader of the Council – increase to £29,000

 

(2)          Deputy Leader of the Council – increase to £20,000

 

(3)          Cabinet Members – increase to £16,000

 

(4)          Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – increase to £6,000

(5)          Deputy Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – no allowance

(6)          Chairmen of Planning & Regulation Committee – increase to £6000

(7)          Deputy Chairman of Planning & Regulation Committee – no allowance

(8)          Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – increase to £6,000

(9)          Deputy Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – no allowance

(10)       Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – increase to £6,000

(11)       Deputy Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – no allowance

(12)       Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

(13)       Deputy Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

(14)       Chairman of the Council – increase to £8,500

(15)       Vice-Chairman of the Council – increase to £2125

(16)       Leader of the Opposition – reduce to £8,000

(17)       Other Shadow Cabinet Members – restore allowance - £2,500

(18)       Locality Meeting Chairman – remain at £500

(19)       Police and Crime Panel member - remain at £1,515

(20)       Police and Crime Panel Chairman - remain at £3,030

(21)       Police and Crime Panel Vice-Chairman - £3,500

(c)          the Council does not establish a general co-optees allowance;

(d)          a co-optees’ allowance continues to be payable to an independent co-opted member of the Audit & Governance Committee when the co-opted member serves as Chairman of the Audit Working Group;

(e)          the Council’s Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances and the Co-optees’ Allowance to the Chairman of the Audit Working Group be amended annually by reference to the annual Local Government Pay Award for staff and that this should take effect from the date on which the award for staff similarly takes effect;

(f)           that Child and Dependant’s Carer’s Allowances be paid on the basis that:-

Members with care responsibilities in respect of dependent children under 16: or dependent adults certified by a doctor or social worker as needing attendance, will be reimbursed, on production of valid receipts, for actual payments to a carer while the member is on Council duties, up to a maximum of £6per hour for each dependent child or £17 per hour for an adult. Money paid to a member of the claimant member’s household will not be reimbursed;

(g)          the Council retains, for members, the travel and subsistence scheme that is applicable to officers. Overnight accommodation to be booked by officers where possible; when alternative accommodation arrangements are to be used, this should be approved by the relevant officer;

(h)          claims made under the Council’s travel and subsistence scheme be accompanied by receipts and/or any other relevant evidence of the costs incurred and that claims under the scheme be made, in writing, within two months of the relevant duty in respect of which the entitlement to the allowance arises;

(i)            list of Approved Duties include the capacity for leaders of a political group to claim for attending formal meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees for the purpose of keeping themselves informed of business;

(j)            the list of Approved Duties for the purpose of travel, subsistence and dependent care allowances continue and be agreed as set out in the attached Annex;

(k)          the amounts for Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowances and Co-optees’ Allowances be rounded to the nearest pound following the application of any index;

 

(2)       The Scheme of Allowances to apply from 1 April 2015.

 

Following debate the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 55 votes to 5, with 1 abstention.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote.  7 Members by standing in their places required a named vote in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.4.1. Voting was as follows:

 

Councillors voting for the motion (38)

 

Councillors Purse, Carter, Tilley, Heathcoat, Stratford, Rose, Hudspeth, Waine, Constance, Bartholomew, Bulmer, Mrs Fulljames, Lilly, Lindsay-Gale, Nimmo Smith, Hibbert-Biles, Fatemian, Owen, Langridge, Mathew, Patrick, Godden, Greene, Hallchurch, Gearing, Wilmshurst, Lovatt, Johnston, Hannaby, Harrod, Handley, Chapman, Billington, Reynolds, Mallon, Fooks, Webber, Sibley, Atkins;

 

Councillors voting against the motion (20)

 

Councillors J. Sanders, Hoare, Lygo, Dhesi, Curran, Brighouse, Christie, Hards, Price, Beal, Phillips, G. Sanders, Pressel, Tanner, Cherry, Howson, Rooke, Harris, Williams, Coates;

 

Councillors Abstaining (3)

 

Councillors Fawcett, Chapman, Gray

 

It was accordingly carried by 38 votes to 20, with 3 abstentions.

 

RESOLVED: (by 38 votes to 20, with 3 Abstensions)

 

(1)       The Council is RECOMMENDED to consider the following recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and in so doing agree a Scheme of Allowances:

 

(a)          the Basic Allowance payable to all councillors increase from £8,376 to £10,000;

(b)          in addition to the Basic Allowance, a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) be paid as follows:-

(1)          Leader of the Council – increase to £29,000

 

(2)          Deputy Leader of the Council – increase to £20,000

 

(3)          Cabinet Members – increase to £16,000

 

(4)          Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – increase to £6,000

(5)          Deputy Chairmen of Scrutiny Committees – no allowance

(6)          Chairmen of Planning & Regulation Committee – increase to £6000

(7)          Deputy Chairman of Planning & Regulation Committee – no allowance

(8)          Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – increase to £6,000

(9)          Deputy Chairman of Audit & Governance Committee – no allowance

(10)       Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – increase to £6,000

(11)       Deputy Chairman of Pension Fund Committee – no allowance

(12)       Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

(13)       Deputy Chairman of Remuneration Committee – no allowance

(14)       Chairman of the Council – increase to £8,500

(15)       Vice-Chairman of the Council – increase to £2125

(16)       Leader of the Opposition – reduce to £8,000

(17)       Other Shadow Cabinet Members – restore allowance - £2,500

(18)       Locality Meeting Chairman – remain at £500

(19)       Police and Crime Panel member - remain at £1,515

(20)       Police and Crime Panel Chairman - remain at £3,030

(21)       Police and Crime Panel Vice-Chairman - £3,500

(c)          the Council does not establish a general co-optees allowance;

(d)          a co-optees’ allowance continues to be payable to an independent co-opted member of the Audit & Governance Committee when the co-opted member serves as Chairman of the Audit Working Group;

(e)          the Council’s Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances and the Co-optees’ Allowance to the Chairman of the Audit Working Group be amended annually by reference to the annual Local Government Pay Award for staff and that this should take effect from the date on which the award for staff similarly takes effect;

(f)           that Child and Dependant’s Carer’s Allowances be paid on the basis that:-

Members with care responsibilities in respect of dependent children under 16: or dependent adults certified by a doctor or social worker as needing attendance, will be reimbursed, on production of valid receipts, for actual payments to a carer while the member is on Council duties, up to a maximum of £6 per hour for each dependent child or £17 per hour for an adult.  Money paid to a member of the claimant member’s household will not be reimbursed;

(g)          the Council retains, for members, the travel and subsistence scheme that is applicable to officers. Overnight accommodation to be booked by officers where possible; when alternative accommodation arrangements are to be used, this should be approved by the relevant officer;

(h)          claims made under the Council’s travel and subsistence scheme be accompanied by receipts and/or any other relevant evidence of the costs incurred and that claims under the scheme be made, in writing, within two months of the relevant duty in respect of which the entitlement to the allowance arises;

(i)            list of Approved Duties include the capacity for leaders of a political group to claim for attending formal meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees for the purpose of keeping themselves informed of business;

(j)            the list of Approved Duties for the purpose of travel, subsistence and dependent care allowances continue and be agreed as set out in the attached Annex;

(k)          the amounts for Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowances and Co-optees’ Allowances be rounded to the nearest pound following the application of any index;

 

(2)       The Scheme of Allowances to apply from 1 April 2015.