Issue - meetings

To receive the Report and Recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The Head of Paid Service introduced the report of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel, which set out proposals on the Member Allowances Scheme for 2022/23. The Panel’s report contained seven recommendations for Council to consider as well as providing the consequential budget implications. If adopted, the Panel recommended that the changes apply from 1 April 2022, with applicable elements applied retrospectively back to this date.

Councillor Schofield moved and Councillor Hudson seconded a motion to approve the recommendations.

Councillors Lewanski and Neame requested to speak on the recommendations and proposed that these not be agreed with Member Allowances remaining unchanged for a further year.

Councillors Schofield and Hudson both spoke in favour of adopting the Panel’s recommendations. It was highlighted that Members had voted in favour of not changing Member Allowances for 2021/22. The recommend 2% increase to the Basic Allowance was modest and accommodated within the 2022 budget.

Madam Mayor called for a show of hands on the Panel’s recommendations with 24 Members voting in favour.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The Basic Allowance be increased from £5,670 to £5,783.

2.    The Special Responsibility Allowances remain unchanged.

3.    The Travel Allowances remain unchanged.

4.    The Subsistence Allowances remain unchanged.

5.    The Dependent Carers’ Allowances remain unchanged.

6.    Arrangements for Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave remain unchanged.

7.    A full review of Member Allowances be undertaken in accordance with the programme set out in the Panel’s report.