Agenda item

The Council considered a report of the Interim Corporate Director of Resources regarding the outcome of the review of the Members Allowances Scheme by the Independent Remuneration Panel and sought agreement to a scheme of allowances for 2021/22 taking into account the view of the Panel (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Interim Corporate Director of Resources informed Council that the Independent Remuneration Panel had recommended an increase in Members Basic Allowance of 0.7% for 2021/22 in line with the Consumer Price Index.  The recommendation had been considered by the Constitution Working Group on 8 January 2021 which was minded not to support the increase, while noting it was for Council to determine.

The Leader of the Council proposed that, notwithstanding the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel, no change be made to the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2021/22.  The Leader added that he considered decisions on Members allowances should not be made by Members at full Council, however this change would require a national change.  The Constitution Working Group had agreed to make representations to Government on this and the Leader proposed that this also be part of Councils recommendations.  Seconded by Councillor A Napier.

Councillors R Bell, A Hopgood and J Shuttleworth all supported the recommendations made by the Leader of the Council not to recommend an increase and to make representations to the Government for the setting of Members allowances.

Resolved:

i)             That the Members’ Allowances Scheme remain unchanged for 2021/22

ii)            That representations be made to government regarding the setting of Members’ Allowances.