Agenda item

Mr Richard Quirk, Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel introduced the report and outlined the process that had been undertaken to produce the recommendations set out in the report.  Consultation had taken place with Members and thanks were expressed to those that had responded.  However the response rate had been particularly low.

Taking all factors into account, the Panel had recommended an increase of £560 pa to Members’ basic allowance.  However it was noted that this included the rolling in of broadband connection payments, valued at £240pa, currently claimed separately by Members.

The Panel were of the view that the SRA payments were currently adequate and had recommended these remain unchanged.

The issue of payments to Vice-Chairmen, where two Chairmen served one Committee had been a matter raised with the Panel.  The Panel had felt this was something that Members needed to determine and as such two options were presented for consideration:  Splitting the payment between the two roles, or continuing to pay both positions the allowance.

The Panel’s full set of recommendations were as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Debate ensued and a Councillor spoke  vehemently against multiple payments being made to Committee Vice-Chairmen where they shared a role.  He considered this completely unjustified. He also questioned the need for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee  at all, as in his view the Committee served no purpose.  As such he moved option A within the report.

This view was challenged, with a Member noting that multiple Vice-Chairmanships had been introduced under the Leadership of that member. In response he advised the circumstances of the Council had considerably changed with a move away from the previous commercial and entrepreneurial drive, reducing the work, and as such stood by his previous statement.

The Chairman of Governance and Audit Committee, referred to the very low response rate, referred to by the Chairman of the Remuneration Panel.  Such a low response rate had the potential to outweigh the general feeling and therefore he encouraged all Members to engage in the process in the future to ensure the views expressed were accurate and reflective of the collective.

Several Members spoke to challenge the view expressed by the former Leader. The Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee acknowledged the direction of work had changed but this had been replaced by other drivers, such as adding Social Value.  In his view the work demand had not reduced but in fact increased in terms of his Committee.  Furthermore, different Vice-Chairs brought with them different skills, all of which added value to the work of the Committee.  He therefore moved Option B within the report which was duly seconded.

The former Chairman of the Challenge and Improvement Committee, who had served with the assistance of two Vice-Chairmen again made representations in support of retaining the two payments.  He praised his former Vice-Chairman, Councillor Angela White, and outlined examples of work she personally spear-headed in the role.

This view was endorsed by many.

Members thanked the Remuneration Panel for the work they undertook on behalf of the Authority. 

The Leader encouraged Members to make representations to himself, if there were concerns with how Committees were operating.

Having being moved and seconded it was RESOLVED that: -

(a)         the new rates, as shown within the report (at Appendix A) with regards to Members’ Allowances for the 2020/2021 Civic Year be approved, namely: -

·         an increase of £560 p/a to the individual Basic Allowance and incorporating broadband within this (no separate broadband payment to be made);

·         retaining all remaining allowances at current rates; and

(b)          where there is more than one Vice-Chairman sitting on a Committee, Option B be supported, namely: -

·         that the SRA allowance continue to be paid to both Vice-Chairman, as opposed to being split between them.