Agenda item

The Panel is invited to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Chairman introduced Mr Mike Press, who had taken part in the Members Allowance Review to present the report on behalf of the Panel.

It was explained that all Local Authorities must have regard to the recommendations of their Independent Panel before making decisions on the Member’s Allowances Scheme.

The Independent Panel for the current year was made up of the following members:

·         Mark Palmer, South East Employers Organisation

·         David Dixon, Media Representative

·         Mike Press, Community Representative.

Mr Press drew attention to paragraph 5.4 of the report and the view of the Panel that being a Councillor was not a job.

Mr Press explained that the Panel was keen to see the Basic Allowance linked to a formula that was robust, fair and transparent, and he outlined the formula which had been agreed.  The Panel recommended that from next year the Basic Allowance be increased in line with staff annual percentage salary increases.

In relation to section 6.6 of the report, Mr Press explained that it had been recommended to increase the allowance to the Chairman of the Planning Committee, due to the heavy workload of the Committee. 

Reference was made to item 7 of the report in particular to the Carers Allowance which was recommended to be £35.00 per hour for qualified Agency Care.  This should also be reflected in the summary on page 66 which referred to £30.00 per hour.

The Chairman then invited Councillor Mrs Mellish to address the Panel in accordance with Standing Order 34.  Councillor Mrs Mellish stated that she was one of the people who had been interviewed and had completed a questionnaire, and whilst she was happy with most of the report, she was concerned about the increase in allowance for the Chairman of the Planning Committee and the decrease for the Licensing Committee Chairman.

She acknowledged that the Chairman of the Planning Committee did go out and visit and the sites before the meeting, but considered that 40% of the Leaders Allowance was more than what the Mayor received who attended functions on a daily basis

She understood that the Planning Committee did have to sit for long hours and the agendas had to be read and understood, and asked why all Planning Committee members could not receive an attendance allowance for being part of the meeting.

The Chairman then invited Councillor Moriarty to address the Committee in accordance with Standing Order 34.  Councillor Moriarty stated that the Panel had worked scientifically and thoroughly.  He stated that there was a danger that the Council could be accused of increasing Council Tax and increase allowances.  He stated that this report should be tied in with the next report on Scrutiny Structures and Policy Development.  He queried the role of the Assistant to the Leader which was introduced when the Council was opposing the incinerator.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Mrs Mellish stated that the Chairman of the Planning Committee would be getting 5% less than a Cabinet Member, and could not understand why the allowance would be so close to a Cabinet Member allowance.

In response to the comment about paying all Planning Committee members an attendance allowance, the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources explained that it was illegal to do so.

Councillor Collop stated that he had not attended an interview with the Panel as he had worked with a member of the Panel.  He referred to the deletion of the SRA for the deputy Leader of the Opposition Group with the reason given that the role was not significant enough to attract an amount.  He explained that there were 9 members of the Labour Group and 3 opposition members, and always since he had been on the Council the Deputy Leader of the Opposition received an allowance and wanted to know what the rationale was behind it.

Mr Press responded that the opposition members could ask for a review to be carried out.  He understood that the rationale was that the public would not see how this could be justified.

Councillor Collop added that sometimes members of the opposition group had to work harder to try to make a good case.

Mr Press added that it was the opinion of the Allowances Panel that being a Councillor was not a job but a choice.

The Chairman referred to paragraph 6.7.2 of the report, and asked what evidence was there that the hearings of the Licensing Committee had reduced.  In response, Mr Press explained that when the new regulations came into force there had been an increase in the number of hearings for new licences.  However that workload had now reduced and the Panel had taken that into account.

The Chairman stated that Cabinet would consider the varying workloads of Cabinet Members, Committees and Panels as part of their recommendations.

Councillor Morrison informed the Panel that he had been a member of the Planning Committee for over 12 years and he had seen the way in which the Chairman had to work.  He explained that there was an increasing responsibility for Chairman of the Committee in terms of keeping the Committee running smoothly as she did, she also read all of the agenda.  He and others considered that the Chairman was the ‘face’ of the Council and kept the good name of the Council high.  The Chairman was also aware and understood the latest developments in legislation.  He did not feel that the role that the Chairman carried out could be compared with what the Mayor did.

Councillor Morrison stated that he was against the ideal of using a formula to calculate Members allowances.  He added that his only concern was how to get young people involved with the democratic process and that was the only good reason to raise allowances.  He was against putting up allowances to what the Panel had suggested.

Mr Press explained that the regulations were very clear that there would be an allowance for Councillors.

The Chief Executive stated that he considered that the Members Allowance Panel had completed a thorough and professional piece of work and there was a firm basis for Cabinet to make a decision.   

In response to a query from Councillor Morrison, the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Resources stated that he had listened to the debate at the meeting, and the minutes would also detail the debate.

The Chairman thanked Mr Press for attending the meeting and the other members of the Allowance Panel for their work.

RECOMMENDED:    That the Panel supported the recommendations to Cabinet and Council as set out below:

1.         That Cabinet is invited to comment on the recommendations of the Panel and make onward recommendations to Council in order to set the levels of remuneration for Councillors with effect from 21 May 2015.

2.         That the Cabinet recommend to Council that the Scheme of Allowances be           updated accordingly.

3.         That for the next four years, any increases in allowances be linked to staff pay awards.

4.         That the recommendation to delete the IT allowance is not agreed.