Minutes:
Further to Minute No. 18/38 ante, discussion continued on the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel summarising the outcome of the eighth review of the Members' Allowances Scheme by the Independent Remuneration Panel.
Councillor Dr N Johnson acknowledged the work of the Panel and in light of the current financial restraints Councillor Johnson moved the following amendment to the recommendations which were duly seconded by Councillor Ms Smith -
"that no increase be made to the level of basic allowance for all District Councillors and no increase be made to the Special Responsibility Allowances for the Executive Leader and Deputy Executive Leader”.
Following debate and on being put to the vote, the amendment was declared to be LOST.
Councillor J D Ablewhite welcomed the proposals as contained in the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel and such proposals represented the cost for democracy but also to support younger people coming into local government and in light of the proposed defeated motion outlined previously reminded Members that they also had the right to decline a basic allowance to be paid to them.
Councillor T D Sanderson indicated his concern for such increases in allowances and although accepting that any increases remained in budget, his recent attendance at the Hinchingbrooke Country Park Joint Group that had highlighted staffing pressures with vacancies, he was unsure as to how well any such increases in Members’ Allowances would be accepted by staff.
Councillor B S Chapman outlined his support for the proposed reduction in his Special Responsibility Allowance as Leader of the Principal Opposition and suggested that any reduction be passed onto the staff. Councillor Chapman moved the following amendment to the recommendations which were duly seconded by Councillor Dr Johnson -
“that no increase be made to the level of basic allowance for all District Councillors and no increase be made to the Special Responsibility Allowances for the Executive Leader and Deputy Executive Leader nor the inclusion of a Special Responsibility Allowance for Assistant Cabinet Members”.
Following debate and on being put to the vote, the amendment was declared to be LOST.
Councillor J P Morris moved the following amendment to the recommendations which were duly seconded by Councillor B S Chapman –
“the addition of recommendation (j) that Members who have sufficient financial means should consider donating the increase in their basic allowance to the Chairman’s Charity or a charity on their choice”.
Following debate and on being put to the vote, the amendment was declared to be LOST.
Councillor T D Alban referred to a Freedom of Information request made to Cambridgeshire County Council on any members that had declined to receive their allowance and in response the County Council had confirmed that that had no record of any Member that had declined their basic allowance or Special Responsibility Allowance and suggested that some of the opposition Members had double standards with their proposed amendments.
Councillor Mrs S J Conboy indicated her frustration at some of the Members’ comments, insofar as all Members had already had an opportunity to contribute to the Independent Review.
In conclusion, Councillor Fuller commented that the size of the Cabinet had reduced significantly from 10 to 6 members, resulting in a saving of over £33K and the proposals in the report would also be imposing a sliding scale on the Special Responsibility Allowance paid to Cabinet Members dependent upon the number of other Cabinet Members. On behalf of the Leader, Councillor Fuller outlined his exception to comments made previously and the allowances proposed in this Independent Report did not fully remunerate Members for their time as many Members here at this meeting were here for the purpose of Huntingdonshire.
It having been previously moved and seconded (Minute No. 18/38 refers), the Council
RESOLVED
(a) that the Managing Director be authorised to prepare a new scheme of Members' Allowances to come into effect on 17th October 2018 to include the following changes -
¨ the level of basic allowance for all District Councillors as outlined in the Appendix to the report now submitted;
¨ the discontinuation of the Members IT and telephone support allowance;
¨ the levels of special responsibility allowances outlined in the Appendix to the report now submitted;
¨ the continuation of the one Special Responsibility Allowance rule, with the exception of the Members of the Development Management Committee;
¨ the continuation of payment of the Independent Person and Deputy Independent Person allowance of £1,000 and £500 respectively per annum;
¨ the continuation of the arrangements for the payment of dependant carer's allowances;
¨ the level of child care rates be amended and set at the National Living Wage;
¨ the continuation of the terms and conditions and the rates payable for travel and subsistence based on the mileage rates published by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for reimbursement of mileage incurred in undertaking approved duties;
¨ the indices to be used for indexation purposes to enable the Members' Allowances Scheme to be adjusted until 30th April 2022 as outlined in the attached Appendix; and
(b) that, upon the coming into effect of the revised Members' Allowances Scheme with effect from 17th October 2018, the existing Scheme be revoked.