Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel in respect of Members’ Allowances for the financial year 2010/11.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1)         the requirement for an annual inflation increase, as a minimum, be re-affirmed with the 1% increase to remain in the Members’ Allowances budget reserves for 2010/11 but that Members not take up the increase for 2010/11;

2)         the Council be asked to note the IRP’s belief that additional supplementary increases should be made to gradually bring the Borough Council into line with other authorities;

3)         no such additional increase be recommended for 2010/11, in view of the current uncertain  financial climate affecting local authorities;

4)         because of a current ambiguity, definitions of “Approved Duties” for mileage/subsistence claims purposes be clarified to specify that SRA is intended to cover the additional costs associated with relevant “Special Responsibility”; and that claims will only be accepted for duties approved in advance by the Council.

(The Committee agreed that the 1% minimum increase, added to the Members’ Allowances budget as a result of a previous ‘Standing’ Council resolution, be added to the budget reserves and that Members not accept the increase for the 2010/11 financial year.)

The annual report from the Independent Remuneration Panel detailing the recommendations arising from their review of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances was considered by the Committee.

Members welcomed the report and generally accepted the recommendations. The matter upon which there was discussion was the reaffirmation of the requirement for an annual inflation increase and whether this should be passed on to Members. All were agreed that there should not be an increase in the amount of allowances accepted by Members but the means for achieving this end was a matter of some debate. It was proposed that the increase be built into the budget reserve to ensure that the Council’s Scheme would not fall further behind that of neighbouring and comparable authorities in future years.

The Committee agreed that the 1% minimum increase, added to the Members’ Allowances budget as a result of a previous ‘Standing’ Council resolution, be added to the budget reserves and that Members not accept the increase for the 2010/11 financial year.

RESOLVED that

1)         the requirement for an annual inflation increase, as a minimum, be re-affirmed with the 1% increase remaining in the Members’ Allowances budget reserves for 2010/11;

2)         the Council be asked to note the IRP’s belief that additional supplementary increases should be made to gradually bring the Borough Council into line with other authorities;

3)         no such additional increase be recommended for 2010/11, in view of the current uncertain  financial climate affecting local authorities;

4)         because of a current ambiguity, definitions of “Approved Duties” for mileage/subsistence claims purposes be clarified to specify that SRA is intended to cover the additional costs associated with relevant “Special Responsibility”; and that claims will only be accepted for duties approved in advance by the Council.