MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Licensing Committee

Thursday 18 September 2014

REPORT OF Head of Policy and Communications

Report prepared by Caroline Matthews 

1.           Special Responsibility Allowance

1.1        Issue for Decision

1.1.1   To consider an appropriate remuneration for the Chairman of the new Licensing Committee to be recommended to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel.

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Policy and Communications

1.2.1   That the Licensing Committee consider an appropriate remuneration
for the Chairman of the new Licensing Committee to be recommended to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   Following Council’s decision to amalgamate the Licensing Committee and the Licensing Act 2003 Committee into one new committee called the Licensing Committee, it will be necessary to consider an appropriate remuneration for the new Chairman.

1.4        Comparisons

1.4.1   Under the current Members’ Allowance Scheme the Chairmen of Licensing Committee and Licensing Act 2003 Committee receive £2,332 each.  Due to the fact that the previous Chairman of both Committees was the same Member, together with the fact that it is the Council’s policy that a Member can only receive one special responsibility allowance, the previous Chairman received a remuneration of £2,332 per annum.

1.4.2   A copy of the current Members Allowance Scheme is attached as Appendix A for ease of reference.

A snapshot of some of our neighbouring authorities has resulted in the following comparisons:-

Swale                              -        do not have a separate Licensing
                                               Committee
Tunbridge Wells               -        £1,375 per annum
Tonbridge & Malling        -        £2,538 per annum (Chairman)
                                               £635 per annum (Vice-Chairman)
Sevenoaks                      -        £2,057 per annum
                                               £514 per annum (Vice-Chairman)

1.4.3   However, Members should be mindful that the above figures are in keeping with other allowances paid at these Councils and should not therefore be compared directly with the allowances paid by this Council.

1.5        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

1.5.1   The Committee could decide not to make a recommendation to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel but it would be more helpful for the Panel to have a suggestion put before them.  

1.6        Impact on Corporate Objectives

1.6.1   The decision does not have a direct effect on corporate objectives.

1.6.2   Risk Management

1.6.3   There is a potential risk to the Council’s budgets if the remuneration was set above the current special responsibilities allowance.

1.7        Other Implications  

The financial implications are set out in the report.

1.8        Relevant Documents

1.8.1   Appendices  

None.Appendix A – Members Allowance Scheme

1.8.2   Background Documents

None. 

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT?                  THIS BOX MUST BE COMPLETED   X     Yes                                               No     If yes, this is a Key Decision because: ……………………………………………………………..   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….     Wards/Parishes affected: …………………………………………………………………………………..   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..