Issue - meetings

Independent Remuneration Panel Recommendations 2023/24

The Leader presented recommendations that had been made at the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 7^th February 2023 in respect of Members’ Allowances for 2023/24.  Council was informed that, whilst the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) had proposed an increase to the basic allowance for Members, the Executive Committee had concluded that it would not be appropriate at this time to increase the basic allowance.  The Executive Committee had also chosen not to endorse the IRP’s proposals in respect of the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) paid to Members.  Members were asked to note that whilst the basic allowance would not increase at this time, there would be a need to increase the basic allowance in future to ensure that new and young candidates could continue to stand in local elections moving forward.

During consideration of this item, Councillor Joe Baker presented an amendment on behalf of the Labour Group (Appendix 2).

The amendment was proposed by Councillor Baker and seconded by Councillor Sharon Harvey.

In proposing the amendment, Councillor Baker commented that he agreed with the Executive Committee’s proposal not to increase the basic allowance for Members and to retain existing arrangements for travel, subsistence and carer’s allowance claims.  However, the amendments proposed changes to the level at which various SRAs for different positions at the Council should be set.  This included proposing an increase to the SRA for the position of leader of the opposition, to reflect the increasing importance of the role, as well as a reduction in the SRAs for the positions of Deputy Leader, Portfolio Holders and the Chairs of a number of Committees.  In addition, the amendment proposed that there should be no SRAs payable to Members of the Executive Committee without portfolio and that no Member should be able to claim multiple SRAs.  The amendment, should it be agreed, would result in savings of £21,872 for the Council.

In seconding the amendment, Councillor Harvey highlighted that not paying multiple SRAs and not paying SRAs for the position of Executive Committee member without portfolio, corresponded with proposals from the IRP.  She commented that she supported proposals not to increase the basic allowance at this time, but she suggested that, under the current Scheme of Allowances, payments of SRAs were over inflated and the amendment was designed to address this.

Members discussed the amendment in detail and in doing so commented on the following:

·             The fact that Members had been able to claim multiple SRAs in Redditch for many years.

·             The arrangement in place at other Councils in Worcestershire, whereby Members were not permitted to claim multiple SRAs.

·             The level of increase proposed to the SRA for the leader of the opposition and the appropriate remuneration for this post.

·             The role of the IRP in providing advice to the Council about Members’ allowances and the need for the authority to be mindful of the IRP’s proposals.

·             The amount of time that Portfolio Holders needed to dedicate to undertaking their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78