Council

Agenda Item 11

Subject:                    Review of the Member Allowances Scheme 2025

Date of meeting:    22 May 2025

Proposer:                 Councillor Bella Sankey

Seconder:                Councillor Alan Robins

Ward(s) affected:   All

Labour Group Amendment

That deletions are made as shown with strikethrough below and additional recommendations are added as shown in bold italics below:

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1      That Council is recommended to adopt a new Members Allowances Scheme for the payment of allowances in 2025/26 with effect from the Annual Council Meeting on 22 May 2025 in accordance with the IRP recommendations as set out at Appendix 1; and subject to the amendment set out at Recommendation 2.2 below

2.2      That an additional Special Responsibility Allowance be included in the updated Members Allowances Scheme from 25/26 for the Chief Whip of the largest party, set at 15% of the Leader’s Allowance and that the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Mayor be reduced from 30% of the Leader’s Allowance to 15% of the Leader’s Allowance;

2.2 2.3 That the Chief Executive is authorised to issue the updated Brighton & Hove Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2024-28 in accordance with the IRP recommendations at Appendix 1 following Council approval;

2.3 2.4 That the Monitoring Officer is authorised to amend the Constitution to    reflect the new Members Allowances Scheme accordingly;

2.4 2.5 That where there are any changes to any role listed as attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance under the Scheme, and the revised role is substantially the same as the previous role in terms of the nature or level of responsibility, the Special Responsibility Allowance shall continue to apply to the new role.  This is subject to the Independent Remuneration Panel being consulted and agreeing that it is substantially the same role.

Recommendations to read if carried:

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1 That Council is recommended to adopt a new Members Allowances Scheme for the payment of allowances in 2025/26 with effect from the Annual Council Meeting on 22 May 2025 in accordance with the IRP recommendations as set out at Appendix 1; and subject to the amendment set out at Recommendation 2.2 below

2.2 That an additional Special Responsibility Allowance be included in the updated Members Allowances Scheme from 25/26 for the Chief Whip of the largest party, set at 15% of the Leader’s Allowance and that the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Mayor be reduced from 30% of the Leader’s Allowance to 15% of the Leader’s Allowance;

2.3 That the Chief Executive is authorised to issue the updated Brighton & Hove Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2024-28 in accordance with the IRP recommendations at Appendix 1 following Council approval;

2.4 That the Monitoring Officer is authorised to amend the Constitution to reflect the new Members Allowances Scheme accordingly;

2.5 That where there are any changes to any role listed as attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance under the Scheme, and the revised role is substantially the same as the previous role in terms of the nature or level of responsibility, the Special Responsibility Allowance shall continue to apply to the new role.  This is subject to the Independent Remuneration Panel being consulted and agreeing that it is substantially the same role.