Agenda item

RecommendED: 1)         that the recommendations of the Panel be adopted with the following amendments to set the levels of remuneration for Councillors with effect from 21 May 2015:

       i.          That the IT allowance for Members continue to be paid.

      ii.          That the Opposition Deputy Leaders Allowances continue to be paid at the original amounts

     iii.          That the proposed differentiation of Licensing Chairmen not be agreed (they continue to receive 50% of the overall amount each.

    iv.          That the Planning Committee Chairman increase be limited to 50% of the proposed increase making it £5,594.

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.

Reason for Decision

To comply with the requirements of The Local Authorities (Member's Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 and set the allowances for 2016/17.  The proposed alterations are following feedback by Members.

Councillor Daubney welcomed Mike Press, a Member of the Independent Members Allowances Panel who had prepared the report for the Council.  Mr Press presented the report for the 2016/2017 financial year, explaining that because over the years the allowance levels had been changed on an ad hoc basis, the Panel had carried out a total review, taking into account comments from Members in the process.  He drew attention to the calculations carried out taking into account public service discount element of the work of Councillors, along with calculation for median average hourly rate for staff.  Comparisons with other local authorities had also been made.

Mr Press made reference to the proposed increase to the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Planning Committee Chairman which reflected the large increase in workload and associated responsibility for the role.  He considered that the proposal for the Licensing changes reflected the workflow at the present time. In relation to the carers allowances proposed, as had previously been the case, the Panel had made a recommendation for basic childcare, and also where full medical support carers were required, all of which had to be supported by receipts.  In looking at the proposed increases, he drew attention to the fact that since 2007 the increase showed a 1.6% pa increase in that time. 

Councillor Daubney thanked Mr Press and the other members of the Independent Panel for the work put into the report.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor J Collop expressed disappointment that the Opposition Deputy Leaders allowance had been recommended to be deleted because it was not deemed significant enough to attract an allowance.  He also drew attention to the fact that the King’s Lynn Area Committee Chairman had been awarded an allowance, but not the Vice-Chair.  He considered that the Deputy leaders should retain an allowance as they did have a meaningful role to play.  He couldn’t comment on the Vice-Chair of the Area Committee due to having an interest.  He also considered that the linking to officer rises was a sensible approach.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Mrs K Mellish addressed the Cabinet on the proposals.  She considered that the Licensing proposal could be justified, but did not accept that the proposed increase to the Planning Chairman’s role was justified.  She did not consider that any increase should be based on the personal performance of a Member.  She acknowledged that the Planning Committee had a heavy workload at the moment, but reminded Members that the role was still voluntary, and she considered that when matched against the role of the Mayor or a Cabinet Member she considered it that it did not equate, as the Chairman of Planning Committee was always with officers support in its role, whereas the Mayor and Cabinet Members were not.  Councillor Mrs Mellish considered that the uplift should not be due solely to workload, which would usually balance itself out further down the line.

Councillor Daubney acknowledged that the Council had to give consideration to the Independent Panel’s recommendations, and any recommendations and final decisions would go to Council for a decision.

Councillor Pope concurred with Councillor Mrs Mellish’s comments, acknowledging that the workload should go down.  He considered that Cabinet Members worked hard for their allowances.

Councillor Pope did not agree with the proposal for the differential in Licensing Chairs, as the workload for each changed over time, and both acted as each other’s Vice-Chairman.  He considered the fee should be equal.

Councillor Long agreed with the comment on the parity of Allowances for the Licensing Committee and Appeals Board, as the roles were to carry out a quasi-judicial role and did balance each other across the year workload wise.

Councillor Beales commented that it should be looked at objectively, and not as individuals, he asked for the rationale behind the recommendations.

Mr Press responded that the Panel had considered the evidence presented, and the Planning Committee Role had greater responsibility than the Licensing Chairmen He considered that the licensing Committee workload had decreased since the changes in legislation brought about its creation.   In response to further questions on the devolvement of workload from responsibility, Mr Press confirmed they were linked.

Councillor Lord Howard commented that he considered that the proposed abolition of the Opposition Deputy leaders Allowance should not be agreed, as, in opposition, the Leaders needed the support.  He considered that if any limitation was added, it should be on the minimum number in a Group.

Following the debate, Council Daubney proposed that:

·        the Deputy Opposition Leaders Allowance be re-instated as there was a responsible role to be played.

·        there be differentiation between the Licensing Committee and Licensing and Appeals Board Chairmen’s Allowances.

Councillor Lawrence proposed that the Chairman of Planning Committee’s increase be set at 50% of the proposed increase. (This equated to £544, instead of £1,088 increase.)  This proposal was agreed.

The Resources and Performance Panel had considered the report and had supported the recommendations.

RecommendED: 1)         that the recommendations of the Panel be adopted with the following amendments to set the levels of remuneration for Councillors with effect from 21 May 2015:

1. That the IT allowance for Members continue to be paid.
2. That the Opposition Deputy Leaders Allowances continue to be paid at the original amounts
3. That the proposed differentiation of Licensing Chairmen not be agreed (they continue to receive 50% of the overall amount each.)
4. That the Planning Committee Chairman increase be limited to 50% of the proposed increase making it £5,594.

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.