Decision details

Members Allowances 2021/22

Decision Maker: Executive, Council

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:


To consider the level of Members’ Allowances for 2020/21.

Decision:

Agreed:

 

RECOMMENDED to Council that: -

 

(1)  the basic structure and principles of the current Members’ Allowances scheme for 2021/22 be retained;

 

(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 2.75% increase in the annual Local Staff Pay Award was awarded by the Employers side for staff which was effective for staff from April 2020), and be uplifted by this amount with effect from 1 April 2021;

 

(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)  a new Special Responsibility Allowance be paid to the Chair of the newly formed Harbour Board;

 

(6)  a new Special Responsibility Allowance, to be funded from Housing Revenue Account, be paid to the Chair of the newly formed Council Housing and Development Advisory Board;

 

(7)  the current Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance scheme be maintained, with the continuation of the level of allowance matching the Living Wage of £9.30 (with effect 1 April 2020) per hour or part of (retaining the uplift of the standard rate of income tax to £11.16). 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;

 

(8)  the sum of £50 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

 

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

 

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

 

 

Report author: Sharon Sissons

Publication date: 02/12/2020

Date of decision: 01/12/2020

Decided at meeting: 01/12/2020 - Executive

Accompanying Documents: