Agenda item - Members' Allowances 2021/2022

** Please note that this report and appendix (the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel) will follow as it is currently being reviewed and finalised **

Report of Director Law and Governance

Purpose of report

To determine the levels of the allowances to be paid to Members for the forthcoming 2021/2022 financial year following the submission of the report of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP).

Recommendations

Council is recommended to:

1.1 Consider the levels of allowances to be included in the 2021/2022 Members’ Allowances Scheme, and whether the Panel’s recommendations should be adopted or modified in any way

1.2 Authorise the Director Law and Governance to prepare an amended Members’ Allowances Scheme, in accordance with the decisions of Council for implementation with effect from 1 April 2021.

1.3 Authorise the Director Law and Governance to take all necessary action to revoke the current (2020/2021) Scheme and to publicise the revised Scheme pursuant to The Local Authorities (Member’s Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended).

1.4 Thank the Independent Remuneration Panel for its report and set a fee of £300 for each Panel Member for the work carried out on this review for 2021/2022 and propose the same level of fee for any reviews carried out in 2021/2022 capped at a maximum of £1200, which can be funded from existing budgets.

Resolved

(1) That, having given due consideration to the levels of allowances to be included in the 2021/2022 Members’ Allowances Scheme, the Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendations, as set out below, be adopted:

· The Basic Allowance be frozen at the current level of £4512

· All Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA’s) be frozen and remain at the current level:

o Leader of the Council*: £7680

o Deputy Leader of the Council*: £2652

o Executive Members holding a portfolio: £6708

o Leader of the Opposition: £3096

o Chairman of the Accounts, Audit & Risk Committee: £3732

o Chairman of the Budget Planning Committee: £3732

o Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee: £3732

o Chairman of Planning Committee: £4464

o Chairman of Appeals Panel: £264 SRA plus £264 per meeting to a capped limit of £1056

o Chairman of Licensing Committee: £264 SRA plus £264 per meeting to a capped limit of £1056

o Chairman of Personnel Committee: £264 SRA plus £264 per meeting to a capped limit of £1056

o Chairman of Standards Committee: £264 SRA plus £264 per meeting to a capped limit of £1056

*Leader and Deputy Leader receive the respective SRA and the SRA for Executive Members holding a portfolio

· All Co-optee and Independent Persons Allowances be frozen and remain at the current level of £768.

· The Dependant Carers’ allowance be frozen and remain at the current level of £20 per hour and claims capped at 40 hours per month.

· The Childcare allowance be frozen and remain at the current level of £10 per hour and claims capped at 40 hours per month.

· There be no change to Travelling and Subsistence Allowances

o Bicycles: 20p per mile

o Motorcycles: 24p per mile

o Motor vehicles including electric vehicles: 45p per mile

o Breakfast allowance: £6.02 per meal

o Lunch allowance: £8.31 per meal

o Evening meal allowance: £10.29 per meal

· The Democratic Services Team to book overnight accommodation.

· Non-Executive Director allowances to be frozen and remain at the current level of £4464 and expenses paid at the same levels as district councillors and recharged to the relevant company

(2) That the Director Law and Governance be authorised to prepare an amended Members’ Allowances Scheme, in accordance with the decisions of Council for implementation with effect from 1 April 2021.

(3) That the Director Law and Governance be authorised to take all necessary action to revoke the current (2020/2021) Scheme and to publicise the revised Scheme pursuant to The Local Authorities (Member’s Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended).

(4) That the Independent Remuneration Panel be thanked for its report and a fee of £300 set for each Panel Member for the work carried out on this review for 2021/2022 and the same level of fee be agreed for any reviews carried out in 2021/2022 capped at a maximum of £1200, which can be funded from existing budgets.

The Director Law and Governance submitted a report to determine the levels of the allowances to be paid to Members for the forthcoming 2021/2022 financial year following the submission of the report of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP).

In introducing the report, the Lead Member for Financial Management and Governance, Councillor Ilott, clarified that the Deputy Leader received the Deputy Leader special responsibility allowance as well as the Executive member special responsibility allowance.

The Lead Member for Financial Management and Governance thanked Members who had provided information to the Panel and thanked the Panel for their work and report.