Issue - meetings

To consider a proposal by the Leader of Council to change the frequency of reviewing the Members’ Allowances Scheme from annually to four-yearly.

RECOMMENDATIONThat Council:

1)         agree to move to four yearly reviews of the Members’ Allowances Scheme and note that the next review would therefore take place late 2021/early 2022;

2)         ask the Constitution Review Working Group to consider what changes are required to the Constitution to affect this change.

The Council considered a report regarding the frequency of the review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme, set out at Agenda pages 41 to 44.

It was proposed by Julian McGhee-Sumner and seconded by Lindsay Ferris that the report be approved.  During Councillor Ferris’ seconder speech he proposed an amendment to the recommendations which was accepted by Councillor McGhee Sumner.

Lindsay Ferris stated that the proposed recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel meeting every four years was too far apart and would lend to large scale changes to the scheme.  However, meeting annually was too frequent.  Having the Independent Remuneration Panel meet every two years was therefore preferred, which was why he was putting forwards the amendment.

Gary Cowan stated that senior officers’ salaries were annually reviewed, and that staff salaries were linked to incremental progression and the pension scheme.  He questioned why Members were treated differently.  Gary Cowan noted that only two applications had been received for the Independent Remuneration Panel, which he felt was not surprising. 

Rachel Burgess emphasised that she believed that Members Allowances should be scrutinised annually, and that allowances were already high during a time of austerity.  There would be nothing in place to stop a recommendation for a big increase in allowances following the review after two years.

Andy Croy was also of the opinion that there should be annual scrutiny of the Members’ Allowances Scheme.  He felt that moving to a review of allowances every two years was not an improvement and was not in favour of increases to Members Allowances.

Prue Bray commented that whilst Members were required to vote on the level of their own allowances it was a difficult matter to discuss and to reach a conclusion on.  The rate of Members Allowances should be reasonable.

A number of Members referred to other councils across the country where they believed that the level of Members Allowances was overly high.

Upon the Motion as amended being put to the vote it was:

RESOLVED:  That:

1)         Council move to two yearly reviews of the Members’ Allowances Scheme and it be noted that the next review would therefore take place late 2019/early 2020 followed by late 2021/early 2022;

2)        the Constitution Review Working Group be asked to consider what changes are required to the Constitution to affect this change.