PAPER C

                                                                                                                                                                                                              
Committee:    FULL COUNCIL

 

Date :              15 MARCH 2006

 

Title :               INTERIM REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL

 

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL

                       


SUMMARY/PURPOSE

 

1.                  To receive and consider the recommendation set out in the Interim Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

 

CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT ITEMS

 

2.                  This report is not confidential.

 

BACKGROUND

 

3.                  The Council is required under the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 and subsequent amendments to consider the recommendations of an Independent Remuneration Panel before making any decisions on Members’ Allowances. The attached (Appendix 1) is an Interim Report from the Panel providing recommendations on a number of Special Responsibility Allowances and the Co-optee’s Allowance that need to be resolved before the end of this financial year.

 

4.                  The attached report details the background and work undertaken in more detail.

 

CONSULTATION

 

5.                  In preparing this Interim Report there has only been sufficient time to undertake consultation with a limited number of Members. A fuller report, with full consultation, will be undertaken and subsequently submitted to the Council  in the summer.

 

FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

 

6.                  If the Council accepts the recommendations this will have the effect of maintaining the status quo and of reducing the potential spend on Members’ allowances for the year 2005/06 (by virtue of the reduced number of members eligible for Special Responsibility Allowances) by £22,431 (5.1%) compared to the previous financial year.

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

7.                  As set out in the background the Council can only make changes to the Members’ Allowances scheme following the consideration of a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel.

8.                  Members should also be aware that there is a general dispensation allowing all Members to speak and vote on this recommendation even though it deal with  the Allowances that some may receive.

 

OPTIONS

 

9.                  The Council is at liberty to approve the recommendations as set out, or to amend the current scheme in some other way.

 

EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT

 

10.             The attached report sets out the Panels conclusion and methodology as to how  it arrived at its recommendations.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

11.             The Panel’s recommendations are:

 

  1. THAT Special Responsibility Allowances for the following post holders be agreed:

 

Current post title

Special Responsibility Allowance (pa)

Cabinet Member

£9129

Chairman of the Regulatory Committee

£6090

2 Vice Chairman of Regulatory (Licensing) and (Development Control)

£1518

Scrutiny Committee Chairman

£6090

Commissioners

£6090

Cabinet Secretaries

£6090

 

  1. THAT the allowance of £400 pa for the Scrutiny Committee Co-optees also be agreed.

 

  1. THAT the above allowances be backdated to the date when each post holder was appointed to the post.

 

  1. THAT all Allowances and Special Responsibility Allowances to Members be frozen at the 2005/06 level pending the outcome of the Panel’s final report.

 

  1. THAT it be noted that the Panel will be undertaking further detailed research and engaging with all Members and a number of stakeholders prior to submitting to Council a final report in the summer of 2006.

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS AND APPENDICIES

 

12.             Appendix 1 – Interim Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel

 

 

 

Contact Point :     Chris Mathews – Programme Lead External Governance ( 823280 [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROFESSOR DAVID FARNHAM

Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel