Agenda item - Members' Allowances

Extract from the proceedings of the Policy & Resources Committee meeting held on the 18 March 2021 (to follow), together with a report of the Executive Lead Officer for Strategy, Governance & Law.

130.1      Councillor Gibson introduced the report which detailed the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in regard to changes to the Members Allowances Scheme. He stated that he wished to thank the Panel members for their work and noted that the Policy & Resources Committee had considered the report at its meeting on the 18 March and made alternative recommendations.

130.2      Councillor Shanks moved an amendment on behalf of the Green Group which was formally seconded by Councillor Hugh-Jones.

130.3      Councillors Yates, Bell, Janio, Hugh-Jones and Druitt spoke on the matter and expressed various views in relation to the recognition of job-sharing roles within the Members Allowances Scheme, the need for any changes to remain cost neutral and for further discussions between the Groups on the proposed changes resulting from the amendment.

130.4      Councillor Gibson noted the comments and stated that he hoped a further report to the Policy & Resources Committee would be helpful and that in the meantime the amendment would be supported.

130.5      The Mayor noted that an amendment had been moved and therefore put it to the vote and called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the amendment and this was confirmed by the Members of the Green Group;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the amendment and this was confirmed by the Members of the Labour Group;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group were against the amendment and this was confirmed by the Members of the Conservative Group,

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting in favour of the amendment;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she was voting in favour of the amendment;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the amendment;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting in favour of the amendment.

130.6      The Mayor confirmed that the amendment had been carried and therefore put the recommendations of the Policy & Resources Committee as amended to the vote. He called on each of the Group Leaders to confirm their position as well as the Groups in turn and each of the Independent Members:

Councillor Mac Cafferty stated that the Green Group were in favour of the recommendations as amended and this was confirmed by the Members of the Green Group;

Councillor Platts stated that the Labour Group were in favour of the recommendations as amended and this was confirmed by the Members of the Labour Group;

Councillor Bell stated that the Conservative Group were against the recommendations as amended and this was confirmed by the Members of the Conservative Group,

Councillor Brennan confirmed that she was voting in favour of the recommendations as amended;

Councillor Fishleigh confirmed that she was voting in favour of the recommendations as amended;

Councillor Janio confirmed that he was voting against the recommendations as amended;

Councillor Knight confirmed that she was voting in favour of the recommendations as amended.

130.7      The Mayor confirmed that the recommendations as amended had been carried.

130.8      RESOLVED:

(1)      That the recommendations of the IRP in the original  report and the comments regarding their encouragement to the Council to consider further information being shared regarding the nature and practical implementation of job share roles for Councillors be noted;

(2)      That a report be brought to the next meeting of Policy & Resources Committee to detail which jobs could be job shared in any revisions to the Scheme;

(3)     That pending a decision following the report mentioned in resolution (4) below, the following be implemented as an interim measure:

 (i)     The Scheme is revised to reflect that where a Member holds a role on a job share basis they are entitled to claim a 50% allowance for that role and that a maximum of two of two job share roles can be claimed for on this basis;

 (ii)    The Scheme is revised to make clear that a 50% allowance can be claimed for a job share Deputy Leader role in addition to a 50% allowance for a Chair of a policy committee role (which is a presumption in the Scheme and the chairing may be full time or a shared role;) and

(iii)    The payments for those Councillors whose responsibilities meet the criteria under the revised Scheme are backdated to the date they were appointed.

(4)   That an Options Paper be brought to the next meeting of Policy & Resources Committee to decide on any revisions to the Members Allowances Scheme with regards to car parking passes, and for the options to include; separating the two car park concessions, reducing them, for permits to be limited in number per political group, choosing to have permits for one site only, allowing Cllrs to make a larger monthly contribution for both car parks near the Town Halls or other suggestions which the IPR believe relevant.