Agenda item

The Council considered a report of the Corporate Director of Resources regarding the outcome of the review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme by the Independent Remuneration Panel and sought to agree a scheme of allowances for 2022/23 taking into account the views of the Panel (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Corporate Director of Resources informed Council that, following a change in the Council’s administration and groups, the specific amounts listed at Appendix A of the Members’ Allowances Scheme for each group leader were out of date.  The section which provided an explanation of how group leaders allowances were calculated remained correct, however the amounts shown for each group leader had not been updated since the election and did not reflect the amount paid.  It was proposed that rather than bringing this list up to date now, and amending the Constitution when there were any changes in groups and their membership in the future, that the reference to specific amounts paid to individual group leaders be removed from the Annex.  The Members Allowances Scheme at Appendix 2 of the report did not reflect any changes to allowances at this stage.

Councillor R Bell, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance thanked the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) for their review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme and moved the recommendation on amendments to Appendix A of the Scheme in terms of payments to group leaders as outlined at paragraph 5.2 of the report.  Seconded by Councillor J Shuttleworth, Portfolio Holder for Rural Communities and Highways.

In response to a question from Councillor Marshall, the Corporate Director of Resources informed Council that it was not proposed to remove the amounts paid to group leaders from Appendix A but to remove reference to the group structures which existed.

Upon a vote being taken it was

Resolved:

That amendments to Appendix A of the Scheme in terms of payments to group leaders as outlined at paragraph 5 (ii) of the report be approved.

Councillor R Bell, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance referred to the recommendation of the IRP of a 2% increase in Basic Allowance for 2022/23.  The Constitution Working Group had resolved not to make a recommendation to Council on this but to leave the decision to each individual Member.  Councillor Bell moved that Council take a free vote on whether to accept the IRP recommendation in terms of an increase of 2% in Members Basic Allowances for 2022/23.  Seconded by Councillor J Shuttleworth, Portfolio Holder for Rural Communities and Highways.

Councillor C Marshall moved an amendment that Council did not accept the IRP recommendation of an increase of 2% in Members Basic Allowances for 2022/23.  Seconded by Councillor R Crute.

A named vote on the Amendment was requested.

For the Amendment

Councillors E Adam, R Adcock-Forster, V Andrews, J Atkinson, P Atkinson, A Batey, K Batey, G Binney, J Blakey, D Boyes, L Brown, J Cairns, J Chaplow, I Cochrane, J Cosslett, B Coult, R Crute, S Deinali, K Duffy, K Earley, J Elmer, L Fenwick, C Fletcher, D Freeman, J Griffiths, O Gunn, C Hampson, D Haney, A Hanson, K Hawley, T Henderson, S Henig, L Holmes, L Hovvels, D Howarth, J Howey, C Hunt, G Hutchinson, A Jackson, M Johnson, N Jones, P Jopling, C Kay, B Kellett, L Kennedy, C Lines, L Maddison, R Manchester, C Marshall, C Martin, E Mavin, L Mavin, B McAloon, S McDonnell, M McGaun, D McKenna, M McKeon, I McLean, S McMahon, J Miller, P Molloy, D Mulholland, D Nicholls, D Oliver, R Ormerod, E Peeke, R Potts, P Pringle, J Purvis, J Quinn, S Quinn, A Reed, G Richardson, I Roberts, K Robson, K Rooney, J Rowlandson, A Savory, E Scott, P Sexton, K Shaw, J Shuttleworth, M Simmons, A Simpson, T Smith, M Stead, W Stelling, A Sterling, D Stoker, T Stubbs, A Surtees, D Sutton-Lloyd, F Tinsley, S Townsend, C Varty, A Watson, M Wilkes, M Wilson, S Wilson, D Wood, R Yorke and S Zair.

Abstain

Councillors M Abley, B Bainbridge, R Bell, D Brown and M Walton.

The Amendment was carried and therefore became the Substantive Motion.

Upon a vote being taken the Substantive Motion was carried.