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Agenda item

Report and Recommendations of the Independent Members' Remuneration Panel (CL164)

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

1.         That Council adopts the Members’ Allowance Scheme 2023 as set out in the Independent Remuneration Panel’s Report at Appendix A and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer to finalise a Members’ Allowances Scheme to take effect from 1April 2023, in accordance with the recommendations of the Panel, as summarised below.

 

                               i.        That the Basic Allowance for Members of Winchester City Council for the year 2023/24 be £6,795 subject to any indexation (paragraph 4.1.15, page 6 of the Panel’s report)

 

                              ii.        That that no councillor shall be entitled to receive at any time more than one Special Responsibility Allowance (paragraph 4.2.5, page 8)

 

                             iii.        That the Leader of the Council receive a Band One Special Responsibility Allowance (paragraph 4.2.10, page 9).

 

                            iv.        That the Deputy Leader of the Council receive a Band Two Special Responsibility Allowance (paragraph 4.2.11, page 9) 

 

                              v.        That the Cabinet Members, Chairperson of Planning, Leader of the Principal Opposition Group and Chairperson Scrutiny receive a Band Three Special Responsibility Allowance (paragraph 4.2.16, page 10).

 

                            vi.        That the Chairperson of Licensing and Regulatory Committee, Chairperson of Audit and Governance Committee, Chairperson of Business and Housing Policy Committee and Chairperson of Health and Environment Policy receive a Band Four Special Responsibility Allowance (paragraph 4.2.18, page 10).

 

                           vii.        Thatthe Chairperson of the Council, Other Opposition Group Leaders and Vice Chairperson of the Planning Committee receive a Band Five Special Responsibility Allowance (paragraph 4.2.22, page 11).

 

                          viii.        That the Chairperson of the Winchester Town Forum, Chairperson of Task and Finish Working Groups and Group Managers each receive a Band Six Special Responsibility Allowance (paragraph 4.2.24, page 11).

 

                            ix.        That travelling allowance continue to be in line with HM Revenue and Customs’ rates (inclusive of for electric vehicles) and that no changes be made to the subsistence allowance scheme for approved councillor duties (paragraph 4.3.1, page 12)

 

                             x.         That that the Dependent’s Carers’ Allowance for childcare and more specialist care  continue be based at cost upon production of receipts (paragraph 4.4.3, page 12)

 

                            xi.        That the approach outlined in the IRP’s report (paragraph 4.5, page 13) be adopted as a basis of a policy to support parental leave for councillors.

 

                           xii.        That an annual indexation of the basic allowance and each of the SRAs continue to be based on the current formula (NJC Local Government). This may be a flat rate percentage increase or as in 2022/23 be based on a specific Spinal Column Point (SCP 29, 5.5%) (paragraph 4.6.1, page 14)

 

                          xiii.        That the new scheme of allowances to be agreed by the Council be implemented with effect from the beginning of the 2023-24 financial year, at which time the current scheme of allowances will be revoked (paragraph 4.7.1, page 14).

 

 

2.         That should the Council not agree to adopt a revised Members’ Allowances Scheme in accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, its report and recommendations be noted and an alternative scheme be proposed to take effect from 1April 2023 (and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer to finalise an alternative scheme)

 

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Tod (Leader & Cabinet Member for Asset Management) advised that an alternative scheme to that produced by the Independent Members’ Remuneration Panel (IRP) had been circulated to all members in advance of the meeting. The Leader stated that the work of the IRP was acknowledged and its work appreciated, however, in accordance with recommendation 2 of Report CL164 he proposed that the IRPs’ scheme and recommendations (recommendations 1 (i) – (xiii)) be noted and that the alternative scheme be tabled as the substantive motion and once seconded, be debated upon and taken to the vote.

 

The alternative scheme proposed by Councillor Tod as the new substantive motion was set out as per the supplementary agenda item and was seconded by Councillor Horrill.

 

Council then proceeded to debate the substantive motion.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1. That the report and recommendations of the Independent Members’ Remuneration Panel (IRP) be noted.

 

2. That the following Members’ Allowances Scheme (as summarised) take effect from 1 April 2023 and that delegated authority be given to the Strategic Director and Monitoring Officer to finalise the approved scheme for adoption:

 

i. That the Basic Allowance for Members of Winchester City Council for the year 2023/24 be £6,597 subject to any indexation

 

ii. That Special Responsibility Allowances payable for Members of Winchester City Council for the year 2023/24 be as follows:

 

Band

Role

Value of the SRA (£)

% of the Leader’s Allowance

Band 1

Leader

£19,264

100%

Band 2

Deputy Leader With Portfolio

£10,595

55%

Band 3

Cabinet Member

Chairperson of Scrutiny Committee

Chairperson of Planning Committee

Leader of Principal Opposition Group

£8,669

45%

Band 4

Chairperson of Licensing & Regulatory Committee

Chairperson of Audit and Governance Committee

Chairperson of Business and Housing Policy Committee

Chairperson of Health and Environment Policy Committee

£3,853

20%

Band 5

Chairperson of Council

Other Opposition Group Leaders

Vice Chairperson of the Planning Committee

£2,890

15%

Band 6

Chairperson of the Winchester Town Forum

Chairperson of Task and Finish Working Groups

£1,926

10%

 

 

iii. That other Allowances and scheme benefits payable for Members of Winchester City Council for the year 2023/24 be as follows:

 

      Travelling and Subsistence Allowance:

 

                 i.       Payable to councillors in connection with any approved councillor duties. The amount of travel payable shall continue to be in line with HM Revenue and Customs’ rates.

 

                ii.      No changes to the existing 2022/23 travel allowances.

 

              iii.       No changes be made to the existing 2022/23 Subsistence Allowance scheme payable for approved councillor duties

 

Dependant Carers Allowance:

 

                 iv.       Childcare and more specialist care should continue to be based on costs, upon production of receipts.

 

                  v.       In the case of specialist care, a requirement of medical evidence that this type of care be required.

 

                 vi.       The allowance should have no daily or monthly maximum claim when undertaking Approved Councillor Duties.

 

Parental Leave 

                vii.       That the approach outlined in the IRP report (as set out as Appendix A to Report CL164) is adopted as a basis of a policy to support parental leave for councillors.

     Indexing of Allowances

               viii.        That an annual indexation of the basic allowance be increased annually in line with the NJC Local Government pay award from April 2023 for a period of up to four years.  After this period, the Scheme shall be reviewed again by an independent remuneration panel.

 

3. That the new scheme of allowances as set out above be implemented with effect from the beginning of the 2023/24 financial year, at which time the current scheme of allowances will be revoked

Supporting documents:

 

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