Issue - decisions

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the current scheme of members’ allowances be made as the scheme to apply from 1 April 2023.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

As set out in the report.

KEY DECISION:

Report to Cabinet and Full Council.

PORTFOLIO:

N/A.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in the report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (S):

All Members of the Cabinet had been granted a dispensation to speak and vote on this item.

DISCUSSION:

The Service Manager for Democratic and Support Services introduced this technical paper.  The Council is required annually to adopt a scheme of members’ allowances as part of the budget setting process.  The Council could only make changes to the members’ allowance scheme following recommendations from an Independent Renumeration Panel.  In July 2022 a review had been carried out by an Independent Renumeration Panel and the current scheme had been adopted.

Following the new Council in May, a further review of members’ allowances would be carried out, likely to be in 2024.

A Member spoke of the Electoral Review and the financial savings and questioned whether following a review of members’ workload, whether allowances would be increased and therefore negate the savings.

In response the Service Manager reported that the Medium Term Financial Plan outlined that there would be an initial annual saving of £80,000 out of the Electoral Review.  This would need to be monitored as there were likely to be additional savings on, for example travel expenses.  However, the Independent Renumeration Panel would review members workload under the new Council and form new recommendations on members’ allowances.

Members spoke about the importance of members’ allowances in order to attract and encourage diversity of members.  It was not possible for some residents to become a councillor if their financial position was adversely affected.