Agenda item - Review of Members Allowances

Extract from the proceedings of the Governance Committee meeting held on the 1^st February 2011, together with a report of the Strategic Director: Resources (copies herewith).

3.1             Councillor Littman introduced the report and stated that the Independent Remuneration Panel had recommended to the Governance Committee that the current Members’ Allowances Scheme should be retained for 2011/12.  He noted that the Panel intended to undertake a further review once the decision-making structure was clear and stated that he wished to thank the Panel for their work to date.

3.2             The Mayor congratulated Councillor Littman on his maiden speech.

3.3             Councillor Randall stated that the Green Group fully supported the recommendations but wished to highlight three areas that it was hoped the Panel could take into account as part of their next review and with a view to reporting back to the council in the autumn.  The three areas being:

(i)           the SRA’s paid to deputy chairs of regulatory committees, i.e. Planning and Licensing which it was felt should attribute an SRA;

(ii)         an urgent review of child care provision; and

(iii)       support for carers.

            He stated that the last two points were important as they affected current Members and a package needed to be identified which could form the basis for the future and thereby help to attract people into becoming councillors.  He also wished t thank the Panel for their work and the officers involved, especially Angela Woodall, who supported the Panel and had brought the previous report to the council.

3.4             Councillor Peltzer Dunn stated that he believed the Panel did a very good job in reviewing the allowances and bringing forward recommendations.  However, he was disappointed that the Panel did not support the payment of SRA’s to deputy chairs, who he believed did undertake an important role and additional responsibilities which supported the payment of an SRA.  He hoped that the panel would reconsider its recommendations in this respect.

3.5             Councillor Mitchell stated that the Labour Group supported the recommendations and looked forward to playing a full part in a further review.

3.6             Councillor Oxley welcomed Councillor Littman to the role of Chair of the Governance Committee and stated that as the outgoing Chairman he had been very well supported by officers.  He believed it was important to look to the future and with a number of new Members to the council and to endeavour to develop an allowances scheme that could meet future needs.  In regard to the role of deputy chairs, he felt that they provided an important role; they had to be able to take over at a meeting and ensure they were fully aware of various issues.  He also felt that further consideration needed to be given to the formula proposed for setting the Leader’s allowance; with the number of members in the group being taken into account it did not reflect the role of the Leader which remained constant whether there was a minority or majority administration.

3.7             The Mayor noted that there were no other speakers and that Councillor Littman did not wish to reply and therefore put the recommendations to the vote which were carried.

3.8             RESOLVED:

(1)   That in view of the current economic climate the current Members’ Allowances Scheme be retained and adopted for the 2011/12 municipal year with effect from the 20^th May 2011; and

(2)    That the Panel’s report be noted and a subsequent report be brought before the Council later in 2011/12 when the outcome of the Localism Bill would be known and a further review had been undertaken.