To receive a report of the Head of Communities and Governance informing Members of recommendations from the interim review undertaken by the Independent Remuneration Panel.
Minutes:
The Council had before it a *report of the Head of Communities and Governance and Monitoring Officer informing Members of recommendations from the interim review undertaken by the Independent Remuneration Panel.
The Monitoring Officer outlined the contents of the report stating that the Independent Remuneration Panel had made a number of recommendations to Council on 29 April 2015 which had been approved. One of these was that they undertook an interim review to ascertain whether any changes to the Scheme were needed in advance of a more Fundamental Review over the next 12 months. The Panel considered that there were a number of areas within the current scheme which would need amending in the short term and were therefore recommending that an interim scheme be put in place (to include these small changes) from 1 August 2015 until 31 July 2016.
Consideration was given to:
· The special responsibility allowance for the Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee when deputising and whether one twelfth of the SRA paid to the Chairman was excessive.
· Broadband payments.
· The need to use additional equipment alongside the iPad and that Members were in a period of transition and therefore did not wish the £75 IT allowance to be removed at the present time and that this issue be considered within the fundamental review.
· HMRC implications for the Chairman’s allowance.
Councillor Miss C E L Slade MOVED, seconded by Councillor B A Moore THAT:
(a) That there be no changes to the existing Members Allowances Scheme until 31 July 2016 except in the areas below.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
The Chairman MOVED, THAT:
(b) That the Vice Chairman of the Planning Committee receive a Special Responsibility Allowance for each deputised meeting that is one twelfth of the SRA paid to the Chairman of the Planning Committee.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have FAILED.
The Chairman MOVED, THAT:
(c) The payment of £15 per month for Broadband costs should cease for all Members as from 1 August 2015 with the expectation that these costs will be covered within the Basic Allowance.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have FAILED.
Notes:
(i) Councillors R J Dolley, Mrs J Roach, F J Rosamond, J L Smith, T W Snow, and Mrs N Woollatt requested that their vote against the decision be recorded;
(ii) Councillors Mrs A R Berry and Mrs F J Colthorpe requested that their abstention from voting be recorded.
The Chairman MOVED, THAT:
(d) For Members using a Council iPad the payment of £75 as an IT allowance per year should cease as from 1 August 2015.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have FAILED.
Note: Councillors: Mrs J B Binks, Mrs F J Colthorpe, J M Downes, Mrs J Roach, F J Rosamond, L Taylor, J L Smith, and Mrs N Woollatt requested that their abstention from voting be recorded;
The Chairman MOVED, THAT:
(e) For Members using their own digital devices the payment of £75 should continue as from 1 August 2015.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Note: Councillors: Mrs F J Colthorpe, P J Heal, Mrs J Roach and J L Smith requested that their abstention from voting be recorded.
The Chairman MOVED, THAT:
(f) For Members receiving paper copies of minutes and agendas but using their own equipment to communicate with the Council and their electorate by email, the payment of £75 per year should continue as from 1 August 2015.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Notes:
(i) Councillors R J Dolley, Mrs S Griggs, Mrs J Roach and J L Smith requested that their vote against the decision be recorded;
(ii) Councillors Mrs F J Colthorpe, J M Downes, P J Heal, B A Moore, F J Rosamond and L Taylor requested that their abstention from voting be recorded.
Councillor Mrs J Roach MOVED, seconded by Councillor B A Moore, THAT:
(g) The Chairman’s Allowance be included as a Special Responsibility Allowance within the Members Allowances Scheme and that £2323 be the amount paid for his or her constitutional role in chairing full Council meetings.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Note: Councillors: W J Daw and T G Hughes requested that their abstention from voting be recorded.
Councillor Mrs J Roach MOVED, seconded by Councillor B A Moore, THAT:
(h) Payments with regard to his or her Civic role should be paid retrospectively and only on production of a receipt/s.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Note: Councillors: W J Daw and T G Hughes requested that their abstention from voting be recorded.
Councillor F J Rosamond MOVED, seconded by Councillor N V Davey, THAT:
(i) That the IRP re-examine expenses in relation to the Chairman’s Civic role as part of the Fundamental Review.
Upon a vote being taken, the MOTION was declared to have been CARRIED.
Note:
(i) Councillors: W J Daw and T G Hughes requested that their abstention from voting be recorded;
(ii) *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Supporting documents: