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Agenda item

Report and Recommendations from the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel

Purpose

To outline the findings and recommendations of the Council’s

Independent Remuneration Panel regarding Member’s Allowances

 

Recommendations

The Council resolves to:

1. Note the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (Annex A);

2. Agree to index link members’ allowances with the pay settlement agreed by the National Employers for Local Government Services, known as “Green Book”.

4. Adopt the Draft Allowances Scheme 2023-27 (Annex B), or an amended version of it.

5. Support a mid-term review in 2025.

Minutes:

Councillor Joe Harris introduced the report as an important report for the agreement of an allowance scheme, and proposed with the report the revised recommendations from the Liberal Democrat Group.

 

The Director of Governance and Development was then asked to introduce the background of the report.

 

It was noted that the Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel had given apologies for not being able to present the report.

 

It was outlined that the last allowance scheme was agreed in 2019 and now needed to be renewed.

 

It was noted that Members were consulted and analysis from other Councils’ schemes in the South West was  examined to ensure best practice.

 

It was highlighted that Councillors currently had an annual increase in line with Staff Pay Awards, but that the current pay award for 2023 had not been agreed.

 

There was also consideration given in this process to making sure that people from all backgrounds could become Councillors.

 

It was noted that there were no changes to the multipliers to the basic allowance for those Members who hold a position such as being a Chair. However, this would be reviewed in 2024.

 

Councillor Evemy then seconded the report and the revised recommendations.

 

The expansion of the employee assistance programme to Members was welcomed as a way to support Members’ health and wellbeing. The maternity, paternity and adoption changes to the allowance scheme were also agreed.

 

It was noted by the Deputy Leader that the freezing of the allowances at the Budget in February is something that should be kept, but that the divergence from the staff pay award would have a greater impact on Members.

 

Therefore it was proposed that the freeze should take place for 2023, but that the increase would then be implemented in 2024 along with any increase in subsequent years.

 

The Leader of the Conservative Group agreed that the cost of living crisis was still ongoing and therefore that a freeze for 2 years would be preferable in the circumstances.

 

There were various comments that the allowance for Councillors was often misunderstood and perceived to be higher than the true figure.

 

 

 

 

RESOLVED: That Council APPROVE the proposed recommendations as amended:

 

1. Note the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (Annex A), and thank them for their input;

2. Agree to index link members’ allowances with the pay settlement agreed by the National Employers for Local Government Services, known as “Green Book”. Leave the members' allowances rates unchanged in 2023/24 and agree to index link members’ allowances with the pay settlement agreed by the National Employers for Local Government Services, known as “Green Book” with effect from 1 April 2024, with the increase in 2024/25 reflecting the staff pay settlement increases for both 2023/24 and 2024/25.

3. Adopt the Draft Allowances Scheme 2023-27 (Annex B), as amended by the new recommendation 2.or an amended version of it.

4. Extend the benefits of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to all Members with immediate effect.

5. Implement maternity, paternity and adoption policies for Cabinet Members with immediate effect.

6. Support a mid-term review in 2024.

 

Voting Record - 23 For, 5 Against, 5 Abstention, 1 Did not vote/absent

 

For

Against

Abstention

Did not vote/absent

Angus Jenkinson

Andrew Maclean

Daryl Corps

Chris Twells

Claire Bloomer

David Cunningham

Gina Blomefield

 

Clare Muir

David Fowles

Julia Judd

 

Clare Turner

Jeremy Theyer

Len Wilkins

 

Dilys Neill

Tom Stowe

Tony Slater

 

Gary Selwyn

 

 

 

Helene Mansilla

 

 

 

Ian Watson

 

 

 

Joe Harris

 

 

 

Jon Wareing

 

 

 

Juliet Layton

 

 

 

Lisa Spivey

 

 

 

Mark Harris

 

 

 

Michael Vann

 

 

 

Mike Evemy

 

 

 

Mike McKeown

 

 

 

Nigel Robbins

 

 

 

Nikki Ind

 

 

 

Patrick Coleman

 

 

 

Paul Hodgkinson

 

 

 

Ray Brassington

 

 

 

Roly Hughes

 

 

 

Tony Dale

 

 

 

 

Supporting documents:

 

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