Agenda item

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to a full review of the Members Allowances scheme, undertaken following an all-out local election.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, that had undertaken a full four-yearly review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme, following the recent local elections. 

Motion:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘1.     That the new Members Allowances Scheme be implemented from the date of the Annual Council Meeting on 22 May 2019, subject to the provision of the payment of the Basic Allowance from the fourth day after the elections.

2.           That the basic allowance for members should be set at £10,200 per annum and backdated to the fourth day after the local election (Monday 6 May 2019).

3.           That the special responsibility allowances for members should be as set out as recommended in the table following paragraph 4.6 of the Independent Remuneration Panel Report and commence from the current date of appointment for the councillor concerned (except for the positions of Civic Mayor and Deputy Mayor).

4.           That the special responsibility allowances for the Civic Mayor and Deputy Mayor should remain at their current level for the rest of this Municipal year, but be as set out in the table following paragraph 4.6 of the Independent Remuneration Panel Report from the date of the annual meeting in 2020.

5.           That the criterion for the payment of two SRAs be added to the Members’ Allowances Scheme as set out in section 17 of the Independent Remuneration Panel Report and that the position of Deputy Mayor also be paid (if applicable) as an allowed second allowance.

6.           That the ‘other’ allowances as set out within the scheme should be set as recommended at paragraph 18 of the Independent Remuneration Panel Report.

7.           That the Parental Leave of Absence Policy at Appendix 1 to the Report be agreed and added to the published Members’ Allowances Scheme.

8.           That in relation to mileage allowances, the rate for members should continue to be the same as staff rates and uprated at the same time when staff rates are amended (annual uprating in line with NJC pay award therefore will not apply).

9.           That for clarification purposes the list of approved duties be amended as set out in paragraph 18.3 of the Independent Remuneration Panel Report.

10.        That the annual uprating to be applied to the Members’ Allowances Scheme continue to be in accordance with the National Joint Council for Local Government Service pay award.

11.        That in relation to the seven wholly owned Council companies, the non-executive Chairs receive an allowance of £5,000 per annum and the other non-executive directors on each company receive £2,500 per annum and the  allowances/remuneration be reviewed in May 2021.

12.        That the payments for the Chairs and non executive directors for the Transport and Airport companies be paid via the Members’ Allowances Scheme, with the payments to the other companies paid by the companies themselves.

13.        That the Director of Governance and Partnerships be authorised to update the Members’ Allowances Scheme accordingly’.

Motion carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.