Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

RECOMMENDED:

That the current scheme of allowances be continued subject to the following modifications from 1 April 2018:

(i)               that the Communications Technology Allowance be increased by £25 per annum to £415 per annum;

(ii)             that the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Chairman of the Planning Committee be reset to 35% of the Leader’s Special Responsibility Allowance;

(iii)           that a Co-optees’ Allowance of £55.36 be paid for meetings up to 4 hours in length and £110.72 for meetings over 4 hours in length, subject to any indexation increase that may be applicable;

(iv)           that the current maximum hourly rate claimable for the childcare element of Dependents’ Carers’ Allowance be fixed at the current living wage of £8.45, with the cap on the number of hours that a member may claim aggregated to 52 hours per month;

(v)             that the hourly rate for which elderly or dependent relative allowance is claimable be set at the Hampshire County Council rate for Home Care Help, currently £10.32 per hour;

(vi)           that Part 3 and Appendix 3 of the Members’ Allowances Scheme be clarified, as set out in the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel;

(vii)          that the Basic Allowance (including ICT allowance), Special Responsibility Allowances and Co-optees’ Allowance be indexed to the annual percentage increase for local government staff at scale point 28, to be applied from the same year that applies to staff;

(viii)        that travel allowance mileage rates be indexed to the HMRC approved mileage rates for motor vehicles, motor cycles and bicycles;

(ix)           that the childcare element of Dependents’ Carers’ Allowance be indexed to the “living wage” hourly rate (outside of London) as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and

(x)             that the elderly and other dependent relatives element of the Dependents’ Carers’ Allowance be indexed to the median hourly rate charged for Home Help by Hampshire County Council.

Members considered the findings of the Independent Remuneration Panel that had reviewed the Council’s scheme of members’ allowances to cover the period 2018/19 - 2022/23.  The Panel’s report and recommendations were attached as Appendix 1 to Report Item 5 to the Cabinet.  The Panel had concluded that the current scheme had stood the test of time and the basic allowance and Special Responsibility Allowances should be maintained at their current rates, subject to continuing annual indexation linked to the annual cost of living salary percentage increase for local government staff.  Some minor modifications, mostly relating to support allowances, were recommended.  In answer to questions Members were advised that the Independent Remuneration Panel had been advised of the impending increase in the number of members of the Cabinet from 6 to 8.

RECOMMENDED:

That the current scheme of allowances be continued subject to the following modifications from 1 April 2018:

(i)               that the ICT element of the Basic Allowance be increased by £25 per annum to £415 per annum;

(ii)             that the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Chairman of the Planning Committee be reset to 35% of the Leader’s Special Responsibility Allowance;

(iii)           that a Co-optees’ Allowance of £55.36 be paid for meetings up to 4 hours in length and £110.72 for meetings over 4 hours in length;

(iv)           that the current maximum hourly rate claimable for the childcare element of Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance be fixed at the current living wage of £8.45, with the cap on the number of hours that a member may claim aggregated to 52 hours per month;

(v)             that the hourly rate for which elderly or dependant relative element of the Dependant Relatives’ Allowance is claimable be set at the Hampshire County Council rate for Home Care Help, currently £10.32 per hour;

(vi)           that Part 3 and Appendix 3 of the Members’ Allowances Scheme relating to travel allowances be clarified, as set out in the recommendation of the Independent Remuneration Panel;

(vii)          that the Basic Allowance (including ICT element), Special Responsibility Allowances and Co-optees’ Allowance be indexed to the annual percentage increase for local government staff at scale point 28, to be applied from the same year that applies to staff;

(viii)        that travel allowance mileage rates be indexed to the HMRC approved mileage rates for motor vehicles, motor cycles and bicycles;

(ix)           that the childcare element of Dependants’ Carers’ Allowance be indexed to the “living wage” hourly rate (outside of London) as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and

(x)             that the elderly and other dependent relatives element of the Dependents’ Carers’ Allowance be indexed to the median hourly rate charged for Home Help by Hampshire County Council.