Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That S Lye be elected Chairman for the meeting.

At its meeting on 12 November 2007, the Cabinet requested the Panel to undertake a comprehensive review of the current Members’ Remuneration Scheme and make recommendations for changes to be implemented at the commencement of the

2008 - 09 municipal year.

The Panel noted that at its meeting on 12 November 2007, the Cabinet had requested the Panel to undertake a comprehensive review of the current Members' Remuneration Scheme and to make recommendations for changes to be implemented at the commencement of the 2008-09 municipal year.

Notes of the following informal meetings of Panel members, councillors and officers held on 19 December 2007 are attached:

(a)   Panel members and officers with Councillor P House, Leader of the LRA Group;

(b)   Panel members and officers with Councillor Mrs D Collins, Leader of the Conservative Group;

(c)   Panel members and officers with Councillor J M Whitehouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group;

(d)   Panel members and officers.

The Panel requested that the Chief Executive be asked if he wishes to discuss the Members’ Allowances Scheme with the Panel. The Chief Executive has advised that he has no particular issue to raise with the Panel but is happy to attend a meeting if the Panel would find it helpful.

The Panel considered the notes of informal meetings of Panel Members, Group Leaders and Officers on 19 December 2007.  Members were advised that since that time Councillor Mrs D Collins had advised that she was no longer in favour of withholding an element of the basic allowance if a percentage attendance had not been achieved in relation to meetings/training.

Members also took account of the issues raised at another informal meeting held with Councillor Mrs A Cooper on 7 February 2008.

The Panel noted that the Chief Executive had advised that he had no particular issues to raise but was happy to attend a meeting of the Panel if it was considered it would be beneficial.

            RESOLVED:

(1)        That the views expressed by Councillors Mrs D Collins, P House, J M Whitehouse and Mrs A Cooper be taken into account in reviewing the Council's Remuneration Scheme;  and

(2)        That the Chief Executive be invited to a future meeting if issues arise on which it is considered his views would be helpful.

To consider the attached report.

The Panel considered a report:

(a)        summarising the Government's guidance on local authority allowances;

(b)        setting out the Council's existing Remuneration Scheme and details of its implementation;

(c)        summarising a survey undertaken by the Local Government Analysis and Research on behalf of the Local Government Association in relation to allowances;  and

(d)        summarising recommendations of "Representing the Future" - The Councillor's Commission in relation to incentives and barriers to becoming a member of a local authority.

The Panel discussed the additional £30,000 which had been put in the Council's draft budget for 2008/09 for members’ allowances and decided that they could not be bound by financial restraints in formulating their proposals.  The Panel concluded that their role was to recommend levels of remuneration and that it was for the Council to decide how to utilise its available budget having regard to those recommendations.

The Panel discussed the existing allowances and options for changes.

            RESOLVED:

            Basic Allowance

(1)        That the Basic Allowance be increased to £4,300 per member per annum;

(2)        That the supplement to the Basic Allowance of £500 per member per annum in respect of Member Connectivity be amended to accord with the decision made by the Council to reduce that amount to £500 for the first year in office and £250 for all subsequent years;

(3)        That, subject to the views of the Director of Finance, the officers be requested to work up proposals providing for the quarterly payments of Basic Allowance currently paid at a rate of 25% per quarter to be paid instead at the rate of 20% for the first, second and third quarters and 40% for the last quarter with the final payment being withheld if a member has not achieved at least a 60% attendance record at appropriate meetings/training sessions as at the end of February each year;

Leader of the Council

(4)        That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Leader of the Council be £10,750 per annum;

Deputy Leader of the Council

(5)        That no provision be made for a Special Responsibility Allowance for the Deputy Leader of the Council;

Cabinet Members

(6)        That the Special Responsibility Allowance for Cabinet members be £6,450 per annum per Portfolio Holder;

(7)        That when the Remuneration Scheme is next reviewed by the Panel, consideration be given to recommending different tiers of Portfolio Holder Special Responsibility Allowances having regard to workload and responsibilities;

Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Panels - Chairmen

(8)        That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be £4,300 per annum;

(9)        That the Special Responsibility Allowance for each Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Standing Panels be £2,150 per annum;

(10)      That no provision be made for Special Responsibility Allowances for the Chairmen of the Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Panels;

Chairmen of Area Plans Sub-Committees

(11)      That the Special Responsibility Allowance for each Chairman of an Area Plans Sub-Committee be £3,225 per annum, subject to being re?assessed at the next meeting of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Assistant to the Chief Executive to report.

The Assistant to the Chief Executive advised that for completeness he would be preparing an addendum to the Panel's report proposing the payment of allowances to members of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

In order for the Council to implement revisions to the current scheme for implementation at the commencement of the 2008 – 09 municipal year, it will be necessary for the Panel to report to the council meeting on 22 April 2008.

The agenda dispatch date for that meeting is 10 April 2008.

It is suggested that the Panel completes its considerations by 28 March 2008 leaving the period from that date until 10 April 2008 to finalise its report.

The Panel noted that in order for the Council to implement revisions to the current Scheme at the commencement of the 2008-09 municipal year, it would be necessary for the Panel to report to the Council meeting on 22 April 2008.

            RESOLVED:

That the Panel complete its considerations by 28 March 2008 leaving the period from that date until 10 April 2008 (the agenda dispatch date for the Council meeting) to finalise its report.

To consider what action should be taken to fill the vacancy on the Panel.

The Assistant to the Chief Executive reported on further steps which would be taken in an attempt to fill the vacancy on the Panel including approaches to the Local Government Association, the IDeA, the Local Government Information Unit, neighbouring authorities, local businessmen and the Essex Branch of the Association of Local Councils.

            RESOLVED:

That a further meeting be held when officers have prepared a draft report of the Panel.