Agenda item - Review of Members Allowances

Extract from the proceedings of the Governance Committee meeting held on the 20^th March 2012, together with a report of the Strategic Director; Resources (copies attached).

9.1             Councillor Littman introduced the report and noted that the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel had been accepted by the Governance Committee and were put before the council for approval.  He wished to thank the Chair and the Panel members for their speedy review of the allowances scheme following the council’s decision to move to committee system of governance and noted that a further review would be undertaken to compliment the yearly review of the new constitution.  He then moved that the report and the recommendations be agreed.

9.2             Councillor A. Norman stated that she wished to thank the Panel Members for their work and asked that as part of their next review they look at the role of the Chair, which was not equivalent to that of a Cabinet Member and that of the Opposition Spokesperson which increased under a committee model.

9.3             The Mayor noted that the report had been moved and put the recommendations to the vote.

9.4             RESOLVED:

(1)   That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Leader’s position remain at the current level of £28,758 as outlined in paragraph 3.4 and appendix 1 to the report;

(2)   That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the two Deputy Leaders’ positions remain at the current level of £17,254 as outlined in paragraph 3.4 and appendix 1 to the report;

(3)   That the Special Responsibility Allowance of £10,927 be payable to the Chairs of Committees as outlined in paragraphs 3.6 to 3.9 and appendix 1 to the report;

(4)   That a Special Responsibility Allowance of £8,626 be payable to the Deputy Chair of Policy & Resources (with responsibility for Finance & Resources), as outlined in paragraph 3.7 of the report;

(5)   That a Special Responsibility Allowance of £3,594 be payable to the Deputy Chairs of Planning and Licensing Committees, as detailed in paragraph 3.9 of the report;

(6)   That the Special Responsibility Allowance of £2,156 for the Deputy Chairs of Committees be payable as outlined in paragraphs 3.6 to 3.9 and appendix 1 to the report;

(7)   That a Special Responsibility Allowance of £2,156 be agreed for the four positions of Opposition Spokesperson as outlined in paragraph 3.10 of the report; and

(8)   That the remaining aspects of the current Members’ Allowance Scheme be retained with the inclusion of the changes in Special Responsibility Allowance’s as outlined above (2-8) form the Members Allowances Scheme 2012/13 set out at Appendix 2 to the report and to take effect from 18 May 2012.