Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive submitted a report regarding the Members’ Allowances Scheme in line with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 which required the Council to consider its Allowances Scheme before the beginning of each year. 

The Independent Remuneration Panel had carried out a full review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme and a copy of their report was attached at Annex A.  This set out a number of recommendations for a range of basic and Special Responsibility Allowances for Members of the Council.  A copy of the proposed scheme was attached at Annex C of the report.  This scheme would cover the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020.  A copy of an amended schedule of Subsistence and Accommodation rates had been circulated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

The Leader suggested that the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2019/20 be frozen for four years covering the term of the new Council.

The Leader proposed the following amendments to Annex C, Members’ Allowances Scheme 2019/20:-

(1)     that paragraph 7.1 of Section 7.0, Adjustment of Allowances, be amended to read “Subject to 7.2 all Allowances shall be adjusted with effect from 1 April 2019 and from each subsequent 1 April for the following year in line with any increase agreed locally for staff for that year.”; and

(2)     that the first paragraph following the table on the Attendance Allowances Annex to the scheme be amended to read “*Subject to a review each year (or as required) by the Independent Remuneration Panel.”

Following a request for a vote to be taken on each amendment individually, the Leader proposed the following amendment to Annex C, Members’ Allowances Scheme 2019/20:-

(1)     that paragraph 7.1 of Section 7.0, Adjustment of Allowances, be amended to read “Subject to 7.2 all Allowances shall be adjusted with effect from 1 April 2019 and from each subsequent 1 April for the following year in line with any increase agreed locally for staff for that year.”

Councillor D A Webster seconded the amendment and following a request for a recorded vote, Members present were recorded as voting as follows:

For the motion: R A Baker, P Bardon, M A Barningham, D M Blades, Mrs C S Cookman, S P Dickins, D B Elders, Mrs B S Fortune, K G Hardisty, N A Knapton, J Noone, B Phillips, M S Robson, Mrs I Sanderson, S Watson and D A Webster (16)

Against the motion: G W Dadd, R W Hudson, R Kirk, C A Les, Ms C Palmer and C Patmore (6)

The motion was declared carried.

The Leader the proposed the following amendment to Annex C, Members’ Allowances Scheme 2019/20:-

(2)     that the first paragraph following the table on the Attendance Allowances Annex to the scheme be amended to read “*Subject to a review each year (or as required) by the Independent Remuneration Panel.”

Councillor D A Webster seconded the motion and following a vote it was declared carried.

Councillor G W Dadd then proposed an amended to Annex C, Members’ Allowances Scheme 2019/20 changing the quantum for the Leader and Deputy Leader from 6.00 and 3.00 to 5 and 2.5 respectively.  Councillor R W Hudson seconded the motion and following a request for a recorded vote, Members present were recorded as voting as follows:

For the motion: R A Baker, M A Barningham, D M Blades, G W Dadd, S P Dickins, D B Elders, Mrs B S Fortune, K G Hardisty, R W Hudson, R Kirk, C A Les, Ms C Palmer, C Patmore, B Phillips, M S Robson and S Watson (16)

Against the motion: P Bardon, Mrs C S Cookman, N A Knapton, J Noone, Mrs I Sanderson and D A Webster (6)

The motion was declared carried.

A vote was then taken on the substantive motion as amended which was carried.

THE DECISION:

That the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2019/20 (as amended) attached at Appendix C of the report be approved with effect from 1 April 2019.