Agenda item

Members considered a report of the Independent Remuneration Panel setting out recommendations arising from its review of Members’ Allowances for 2010/11.

In responding to the Panel’s report, Councillor R. Hollingworth drew particular attention to the new formula recommended by the Panel for the calculation of Basic Allowance which was based on multiplying the national minimum wage (£5.80) x 18.5 hours x 52 weeks with a public service contribution of 34.11%.

Councillor Hollingworth moved that the Panel’s recommendations be accepted with the following changes, which included the banding and rounding of multipliers to two decimal places and the rounding of SRAs to the nearest pound:

Recommendation (3) in relation to Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs)

Ø      SRA for the Chairman of the Licensing Committee to be based on a higher  multiplier of 0.06, amounting to £213  per meeting

Ø      SRA for the Deputy Leader to be based on a multiplier of 0.70, amounting to £2,573 (in addition to the SRA payable as a Portfolio Holder)

Ø      SRA for the Chairman of the Planning Committee to be based on a higher multiplier of 1.00, amounting to £3,676

Ø      That no SRAs be payable to Minority Group Leaders (Councillor Hollingworth expressed the view that any allowances for such positions should be paid for out of political subscriptions)

Recommendation (4) in relation to travelling allowances

That the wording be amended to refer to travelling allowances being payable at the maximum Inland Revenue rate which was currently 40p per mile.

The recommendations as altered above were seconded by Councillor G. N. Denaro.

Councillor S. P. Shannon moved an amendment with regard to recommendation (4) that travelling allowances should be linked directly to vehicle emissions so that lower polluting vehicles were paid at the higher end of the scale; and that the Panel’s recommendation with regard to the cycling allowance be withdrawn. The amendment was seconded by Councillor P. M. McDonald.  Having been put to the vote the Chairman declared the amendment to be LOST.

Councillor W. R. Newnes moved an amendment with regard to recommendation (4) that travelling allowances should be linked to Inland Revenue guidelines with regard to emissions/vehicle engine size. The amendment was seconded by Councillor D. McGrath.  Having been put to the vote the Chairman declared the amendment to be LOST.

The substantive motion was put to the vote whereupon it was

RESOLVED:

(a)               that based on the new simpler formula as set out in section 4.9 of the report, the Basic Allowance payable to every Member of the Council be increased by 1% from £3,640 to £3,676 for 2010/11;

(b)       that a new Special Responsibility Allowance be payable for the position of Chairman of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the level of payment for 2010/11 be set as shown in the table at recommendation (3) below;

(c)        that based on a multiplier of the Basic Allowance for 2010/11, the following levels of Special Responsibility Allowances be payable in 2010/11:

(d)       that for 2010/11, travelling expenses for approved duties be paid in accordance with the approved HM Revenue and Customs mileage allowance rate which is currently 40p per mile, irrespective of vehicle engine capacity; and that the cycling allowance be payable at the same mileage rate as for vehicles for 2010/11 and beyond;

(e)       that no change be made to subsistence allowances for 2010/11.