Agenda item

Members Allowances 2022/23

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

 

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

 

(1)   the basic structure and principles of the current Members’ Allowances scheme be retained for 2022/23;

(2)   the principle that any Member qualifying for more than one Special Responsibility Allowance is paid the higher allowance only, be retained;

(3)   the Councillors’ Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances, including the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor’s Expenses Allowances, should be linked and updated in line with the Local Government Employers (LGE) staff pay award for the previous year (a 2.5% increase in the annual Local Staff Pay Award was awarded by the Employers side for staff which was effective for staff from April 2021), and be uplifted by this amount with effect from 1 April 2022;

(4)   the principle that Special Responsibility Allowances be paid to no more than 50% of the overall number of Councillors be kept under review and adhered to where possible;

(5)   the current Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance scheme be maintained, with the continuation of the level of allowance matching the hourly Living Wage as applicable from April of each year (together with the retention of the uplift of the standard rate of income tax). In the case of members who need specialist care for a child or adult dependant, a higher rate, of up to £25 per hour or part thereof, can be agreed by negotiation in advance with the Corporate Manager, Democratic and Civic Support;

(6)   the sum of £50 be paid to the Independent Persons affiliated to the Audit and Governance Committee for up to four hours work, and £100 for four hours and over, payable to each of the two Independent Persons (up to a maximum of £500 per person in any one year) be retained; and

(7)   the Travel and Subsistence allowances available for staff continue to apply to Exeter City Councillors, where appropriate.

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed Steve Barriball, who was in attendance on behalf of the Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

 

Steve Barriball presented the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel report relating to Members’ Allowances for the period 2022/23. The Independent Remuneration Panel provided a review and guidance to the Council on a scheme of Members’ Allowances and to make recommendations on the allowance to be paid to Members, following the legislation set out under the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2001 and 2003.

 

Members were referred to the recommendations in the report, with particular reference made to:-

 

·         the current Members’ Allowances scheme was recommended to be retained for 2022/23, having been carefully considered by the Independent Remuneration Panel;

·         the Councillors’ Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances, should be increased by 2.5%, with effect from 1 April 2022 to  match the Local Government Employers (LGE) staff pay award for the previous year;

·         travel and subsistence allowances would continue to be made available for Exeter City Councillors where appropriate;

·         the Independent Remuneration Panel would convene again in 12 months to review the scheme of allowances; and

·         thanks to the Corporate Manager Democratic and Civic Support and the Democratic Services Officer (SLS) for their help and support.

 

Councillor Leadbetter, as an opposition leader, enquired on the pay award increase for the previous year. The Council Leader in responding, stated that the report detailed the allowances for the forthcoming year.

 

The Chair thanked Steve Barriball and the Independent Remuneration Panel for their work and to Steve for attending the meeting.

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

 

(1)  the basic structure and principles of the current Members’ Allowances scheme be retained for 2022/23;

(2)  the principle that any Member qualifying for more than one Special Responsibility Allowance is paid the higher allowance only, be retained;

(3)  the Councillors’ Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances, including the Lord Mayor and Deputy Lord Mayor’s Expenses Allowances, should be linked and updated in line with the Local Government Employers (LGE) staff pay award for the previous year (a 2.5% increase in the annual Local Staff Pay Award was awarded by the Employers side for staff which was effective for staff from April 2021), and be uplifted by this amount with effect from 1 April 2022;

(4)  the principle that Special Responsibility Allowances be paid to no more than 50% of the overall number of Councillors be kept under review and adhered to where possible;

(5)  the current Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance scheme be maintained, with the continuation of the level of allowance matching the hourly Living Wage as applicable from April of each year (together with the retention of the uplift of the standard rate of income tax). In the case of Members who need specialist care for a child or adult dependant, a higher rate, of up to £25 per hour or part thereof, can be agreed by negotiation in advance with the Corporate Manager, Democratic and Civic Support;

(6)  the sum of £50 be paid to the Independent Persons affiliated to the Audit and Governance Committee for up to four hours work, and £100 for four hours and over, payable to each of the two Independent Persons (up to a maximum of £500 per person in any one year) be retained; and

(7)  the Travel and Subsistence allowances available for staff continue to apply to Exeter City Councillors, where appropriate.

 

Supporting documents: