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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COUNCIL
22 APRIL 2015
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF FINANCE AND RESOURCES
Report prepared by Caroline Matthews
1. MEMBERS ALLOWANCE SCHEME
1.1 Issue for Decision
1.1.1 To consider the recommendations set out in the report of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel on Members Allowances for Maidstone Borough Council (attached as Appendix A).
1.2 Recommendation of the Head of Finance and Resources
1.2.1 That the
recommendations of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel be considered and
approved as follows:-
(a) That the basic allowance for Members be increased by 5% to
£4,900 per annum to reflect the enhanced role;
(b) That the Leader of the Council/Chairman of Policy and
Resources Committees special responsibility allowance be
reduced by 20% to reflect the change in the role under
the new governance arrangements to £18,661 per annum;
(c) That the Chairmen of Strategic Planning, Sustainability and
Transport Committee; Communities, Housing and Environment
Committee; and Planning Committee all be given a special
responsibility allowance of £7,464 per annum;
(d) That the Chairmen of Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee;
Audit, Governance and Standards Committee; and Licensing
Committee all be given a special responsibility allowance of
£3,732 per annum;
(e) That the Group Leaders Allowance (with the exception of the
Leader) be held at £11,663 per annum to be apportioned
dependent on the number of Members in each party as
approved by Council at its previous meeting;
(f) That there be no change to the Special Responsibility
Allowances for Co-Opted Members of Standards Committee and
the Independent Person, currently set at £331
and £700 respectively;
(g) That there be no change to the Special Responsibility
Allowances for the Chairman of Licensing Panel Hearings
and Licensing Panel Hearing Members, currently set at
£77 per session and £58 per session respectively;
(h) That there be no change to the Special Responsibility
Allowances for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor;
(i) That there be no Special Responsibility Allowance set for Vice-
Chairmen of Committees. However, provision should be
built into the Councils Constitution which allows for a
Vice Chairman to be given the Chairmans SRA allowance
if the Chairman is absent for a significant period of time;
(j) That the broadband allowance of £11.17 per Member be
removed;
(k) That the Dependent Carers Allowance be paid as detailed
in the report;
(l) That there be no change to the current rates for Travel and
Subsistence;
(m) That only the Leader of the Council be given a mobile phone for
Council business use;
(n) That all Members should receive Member development and
training and that in recognition of the increase to the basic
allowance, all Members should take up current and future
training development opportunities to support the revised
governance arrangements; and
(o) That the new Democracy Committee should carry out an
evaluation of the new system in due course and that the
Members Allowance should be reviewed by the Panel in the
next eighteen months to two years.
1.3 Reasons for Recommendation
1.3.1 The report of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel on Members Allowances is attached at Appendix A. In accordance with the requirements set out in the Local Government Act 2000 and subsequent Regulations, the Council is obliged to give consideration to the recommendations of the Panel. A copy of the current Members Allowances Scheme is attached at Appendix B.
1.3.2 The recommendations of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel will have no financial implications for the Council.
1.4 Alternative Action and why not Recommended
1.4.1 There is no alternative action. The Council must consider the Joint Independent Remuneration Panels recommendations in accordance with the requirements set out in the Local Government Act 2000.
1.5 Impact on Corporate Objectives
1.5.1 None.
1.6 Risk Management
1.6.1 Not relevant to the decision being made.
1.7 Other Implications
1.7.1
1. Financial
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2. Staffing
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3. Legal
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4. Equality Impact Needs Assessment
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5. Environmental/Sustainable Development
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6. Community Safety
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7. Human Rights Act
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8. Procurement
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9. Asset Management
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1.8 Relevant Documents
1.8.1 Appendices
Appendix A - Report of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel
Appendix B Current Members Allowances Scheme
1.8.2 Background
Documents
None.
IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT?
Yes No
If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan? ..
This is a Key Decision because: ..
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