Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2016, previously circulated.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 9 February 2016 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

County Solicitor to report on the proposed revision of the existing General Dispensation to provide an exemption for foster parents similar to that for parents and guardians.  Draft attached.

.

The County Solicitor reported on the proposed revision of the existing General Dispensation to provide an exemption for foster parents similar to that currently applied to parents and guardians.

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

RESOLVED that approval be given to the revision of the existing General Dispensation to provide an exemption for foster parents similar to that for parents and guardians and to be published within the Council’s Constitution.

Recommendation: that approval be given to the following revisions shown in bold text to Financial Regulations and consequential changes to the Council’s Constitution.

The current Money Laundering provisions have remained unchanged for a number of years. Legislative changes have occurred which require amendment to current thresholds and reference to legislation within Financial Regulations, as shown below.

D10.2  A limit is imposed on the cash amount to be received in settlement for the payment for goods and services of £5,000 £10,000 in any one transaction. This limit is required to ensure that the County Council complies with the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 2007.

The second proposal will require Cabinet Member approval only for new and additional IT Hardware, rather than the replacement of IT Hardware.  This change will enable the replacement of IT equipment to be actioned quickly, to ensure “business as usual” and allow Cabinet Member focus on strategic purchases. 

B10.1 The Cabinet have delegated powers for approving the purchase of new and additional IT Hardware to the Chief Finance Officer and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Finance or Resources Remit. The approval process will be aligned to the cycle of Cabinet meetings.

The Committee considered proposed revisions to Financial Regulations in respect of Money Laundering provisions and the acquisition of new and additional IT Hardware, recommended by the County Treasurer required as a consequence of legislative change or emerging best practice.

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

RESOLVED that approval be given to the following revisions (shown in bold text) to Financial Regulations and consequential changes to the Council’s Constitution.

D10.2  A limit is imposed on the cash amount to be received in settlement for the payment for goods and services of £5,000 £10,000 in any one transaction. This limit is required to ensure that the County Council complies with the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 2007.

B10.1 The Cabinet have delegated powers for approving the purchase of new and additional IT Hardware to the Chief Finance Officer and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Finance or Resources Remit. The approval process will be aligned to the cycle of Cabinet meetings.

At its previous meeting, the Committee considered the Report of the Independent Members Allowances Remuneration Panel for 2016 (CS/16/11), attached. 

In welcoming the Report and acknowledging the Panel’s view that the Council’s current scheme of allowances and existing multipliers was reasonable and had been carefully thought out, this Committee nonetheless asked that the Panel’s suggested changes to the Scheme from May 2017 onward be referred to the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee for its views, reporting back to this Committee prior to any formal recommendation to Council.

The Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee considered this matter on 24 March (Minute 90) and, in relation to the Basic Allowance, had mixed views regarding any increase in that allowance and was not able therefore to form a common view. In relation to the Special Responsibility Allowances, the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee was of the view that:

(i) the Special Responsibility Allowances for Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice Chairmen should not be changed (0.73 and 0.365 accordingly);

(ii) the Special Responsibility Allowance for the role of Vice Chairman of Development Management Committee remain as part of the scheme; and

(iii) the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to Group Leader allowances appeared ‘prescriptive’ .. and that the Committee had little appetite for any increases for Group Leader roles … but suggested that Procedures Committee look at the role in more detail especially that of ‘Shadow Leader’, previously removed from the scheme.

The Procedures Committee’s views are now sought on how to take this matter forward and whether or not it wishes to make any recommendations to the Council for May 2017.

The Committee had previously considered the Report of the Independent Members Allowances Remuneration Panel for 2016 (CS/16/11) which had reviewed the Council’s scheme of allowances and made a number of recommendations to which the Council must have regard in determining any future Scheme.

In welcoming that Report and acknowledging the Panel’s view that the Council’s current scheme of allowances and existing multipliers was reasonable and had been carefully thought out, this Committee had nonetheless (Minute 56 of 9 February 2016) invited the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee to comment upon the Panel’s suggested changes to the Scheme from May 2017 onward, prior to any formal recommendation being made to Council for that later period. No change had been recommended to the Council for  the Scheme for the 2016/17 municipal year.

The Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee had considered this matter on 24 March 2016 (Minute 90). In relation to the Basic Allowance that Committee was not able to reach any consensus regarding any increase in that allowance. In relation to Special Responsibility Allowances, the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee was of the view that the Special Responsibility Allowances for Scrutiny Chairmen and Vice Chairmen should not be changed and that the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Vice-Chairman of the Development Management Committee should remain part of the scheme. Further, the Committee  felt that the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in relation to Group Leaders allowances were ‘prescriptive’ and while there was little appetite for any increase for Group Leaders the role ‘Shadow Leader’ was one that the Scrutiny Committee felt might usefully be further examined in due course. 

The Procedures Committee’s views were therefore sought as how to take this matter forward and whether or not it wished to make any recommendations to the Council now for the 2017/18 year.

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

RESOLVED that the Report of the Independent Panel and the views of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee be noted and that while the status quo shall be maintained for the time being the Committee recognise that the County Council might wish to further review the Scheme of Allowances for 2017/18 following the next quadrennial elections against the  Independent Panels latest, extant, recommendations.

Summary of Members attendance at meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees during the 2015/16 Municipal Year, attached

The Committee received the summary of Members’ attendance at meetings of the Council, Cabinet and Committees during 2015/16.