Issue - meetings

At the last meeting of the Procedures Committee, the Committee RESOLVED that there be no change to Basic Allowance and consequent re-adjustment of Special Responsibility Payments at this time, but Group Leaders be asked to consider the Panel’s recommendations on the level of Basic Allowance and report back to the next meeting of the Procedures Committee.

Group Leaders will report back.

The Report of the Panel is attached.

The Committee noted their previous resolution that there be no change to Basic Allowance and re-adjustment of Special Responsibility Payments at this time, but that Group Leaders had been asked to consider the Panel’s recommendations on the level of Basic Allowance and report back to the next meeting of this Procedures Committee.

It was noted that the Procedures Committee had previously agreed to implement recommendations (d), (e) and (f), as outlined below, which were subsequently ratified by the Council on 15 February 2018.

(d) the overnight allowance for Members for outside London, increase in line with the staff allowance from £79.82 to £81.06;

(e) the overnight allowances for London increase from £90 to “up to a maximum of £143” (recommendation e); and

(f) The Guidance for Dependant Carer’s Allowance be amended as set out in Appendix 3 of the Report subject to a minor amendment to paragraph 6(c)(iii) to read as follows ‘has a recognised physical or mental disability who is the responsibility of the Member and should not be left unsupervised’.

The Committee again considered the Report of the Independent Members’ Allowances Remuneration Panel for 2018.  Heather Morgan, Chair of the Panel, had previously attended to present the Panel’s Annual Report and highlighted that the work of the Panel, its conclusions and recommendations had been made based on sound evidence.

Members further welcomed the Panel’s acknowledgment that while historically there had been little scope for improvement, the structure of the County Council’s scheme remained fit for purpose with sound principles and noted that, in commending its Report to the Council, the Panel had not suggested any significant changes to the structure of the Council’s scheme.

The Panel had nonetheless recommended a number of amendments to the Scheme in support of their view that allowances should keep pace with the economy generally and that consideration should be given by the County Council to the uprating of basic and special responsibility allowances, as set out in Appendix 2 of its Report.

The Panel further felt that the SRA payment for the Chair of the Investment and Pension Fund Committee should be increased to reflect the significant changes in responsibility since the inception of the Brunel Pooling Partnership.

Members discussed the difficult position of Councils in considering any rises to allowances, but also recognised they had been frozen since 2009 and there was a need to attract more Councillors from different backgrounds to better reflect communities. Furthermore, the workload of Councillors had significantly increased in recent years.

It was MOVED by Councillor Hannaford, SECONDED by Councillor Biederman, and

RESOLVED

(a) that Members should have the opportunity to debate the matter further Council, in particular, that the recommendations of the Panel, as outlined in the Report (and replicated below) be accepted and implemented in full;

(i)            that the structure of the scheme be endorsed and retained;

(ii)           the Basic Allowance be increased to £12,607 and the multipliers be recalculated accordingly, as outlined at appendix 2 of the Report;

(iii)          that the SRA payment  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26

Report of the Independent Members Allowances Remuneration Panel for 2018, attached. 

[Heather Morgan, Chairman of the Independent Panel, will attend to present the Annual Report and respond to any questions.]

The Committee considered the Report of the Independent Members’ Allowances Remuneration Panel for 2018.  Heather Morgan, Chair of the Panel, attended and spoke at the invitation of the Committee to present the Panel’s Annual Report and respond to questions from Members. She highlighted the work of the Panel and that the conclusions and recommendations made were based on sound evidence.

Members welcomed the Panel’s acknowledgment that while historically there had been little scope for improvement, the structure of the County Council’s scheme remained fit for purpose with sound principles and noted that, in commending its Report to the Council, the Panel had not suggested any significant changes to the structure of the Council’s scheme.

The Panel had nonetheless recommended a number of amendments to the Scheme in support of their view that allowances should keep pace with the economy generally and that consideration should be given by the County Council to the uprating of basic and special responsibility allowances, as set out in Appendix 2 of its Report.

The Panel further felt that the SRA payment for the Chair of the Investment and Pension Fund Committee should be increased to reflect the significant changes in responsibility since the inception of the Brunel Pooling Partnership.

The Committee also considered the Panel’s proposals to change the way in which carers allowances were paid so they better reflected the charging practices of many nursery’s and child minders. Members were supportive of the aims of the Panel’s recommendations to support those who had carer responsibilities.

Moreover, Members also acknowledged and reiterated the importance of Political Group Leaders taking a robust approach to performance management as identified in the Panel's Report and as previously agreed (Minute 339(d) of 4 February 2016 refers).

It was MOVED by Councillor Connett, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the Report of the Independent Panel be welcomed and its Members, including former Chair Mr B Tanner, be thanked for their work;

(b) that the Committee notes the Report’s conclusions and recommends the County Council accept recommendations (d), (e) and (f) at the current time, as outlined below.

(i)            The overnight allowance for Members for outside London, increase in line with the staff allowance from £79.82 to £81.06 (recommendation d);

(ii)           The overnight allowances for London increase from £90 to “up to a maximum of £143” (recommendation e); and

(iii)          The Guidance for Dependant Carer’s Allowance be amended as set out in Appendix 3 of the Report subject to a minor amendment to paragraph 6(c)(iii) to read as follows ‘has a recognised physical or mental disability who is the responsibility of the Member and should not be left unsupervised’ (recommendation f).

(c) that there be no change to Basic Allowance, re-adjustment of Special Responsibility Payments or SRA multipliers at this time, but Group Leaders be asked to consider the Panel’s recommendations on the level of Basic Allowance and report back to the next meeting of the Procedures Committee.