Cabinet, Council or Committee Report for Report of the Joint Independent Remunation Panel - Members' Allowance Scheme

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 Committee’s 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 Council’s Constitution which allows for a
          Vice Chairman to be given the Chairman’s 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 Carer’s 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 Panel’s 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

 

 

 

2.           Staffing

 

 

 

3.           Legal

 

 

 

4.           Equality Impact Needs Assessment

 

 

 

5.           Environmental/Sustainable Development

 

 

6.           Community Safety

 

 

7.           Human Rights Act

 

 

8.           Procurement

 

 

9.           Asset Management

 

 

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?

X

 
 


Yes                                               No

 

If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?

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This is a Key Decision because: ………………………………………………………………………..

 

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Wards/Parishes affected: …………………………………………………………………………………..

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