Agenda item

The Council is recommended to accept the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel into a review of the Special Responsibility Allowances payable to Cabinet Members from the introduction of an eighth Cabinet Portfolio.

This report will be circulated separately to the agenda.

(Prior to the commencement of this item, Councillor Mrs Staniforth, declared a Pecuniary Interest and confirmed that she would leave the meeting for this item).

            The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dr Walsh, then made a Statement in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.2 confirming that guidance issued from the Department for Communities and Local Government dated 2013 on disclosable pecuniary interests made it clear that in this instance, under this legal Government guidance, there was not the need for any of the Cabinet Members to declare a pecuniary interest and need to leave the meeting for this item. 

            In response, several Points of Order were then made seeking clarification from the Council’s Monitoring Officer on the statement made. There were Councillors who were unclear whether Cabinet Members should vote for their own financial gain or loss and could not see how this was acceptable without having had a dispensation granted to them.   

Advice was given that under the Code of Conduct the onus on what to declare was for that individual Councillor or Councillors to decide upon.  This was in line with the Localism Act 2011 and the supplementary guidance referred to by the Leader of the Council.  

            The Chairman welcomed Mr John Thompson, the Chairman of the Council’s Independent Remuneration Panel, to the meeting and invited him to present the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report on Cabinet Member Special Responsibility Allowances.  This had formed part of the supplement pack uploaded to the Council’s web site on 18 May 2020.

            Mr Thompson explained that the Panel had submitted a report as the Leader of the Council had increased the number of Cabinet Members from seven to eight.  He outlined that it was not for the Panel to comment on the need or otherwise of the additional post, however, the Panel had responsibility according to the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 to review the impact this additional appointment could have on the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme. 

Mr Thompson outlined that the Panel had had to conduct this review in a very limited timeframe and in line with the Council’s wishes to avoid increasing the overall budget for Members’ Allowances.   There had been a couple of options to consider and the recommendation proposed was deemed to be the fairest option in the Panel’s view.  This proposed that all seven Cabinet Members contribute an equal share from their existing Cabinet Member Special Responsibility Allowance to make up the eighth Cabinet Member Allowance.  Mr Thompson confirmed that he needed to make a slight amendment to the recommendation in the report in respect of what had been quoted in terms of the make-up for the Leader of the Council’s allowance quoted as £5,176 which should read £5,876.  Mr Thompson emphasised that the Panel’s recommendations did not increase the overall budget for Cabinet Members’ Allowances in any way and that this had been the main remit of the review.

            Councillor Dr Walsh then formally proposed the recommendations set out in the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report and he thanked the Panel for undertaking this review within the very short timeframe that had been set.  Councillor Dr Walsh outlined that the Panel’s recommendations produced the fairest and most equitable solution without the need for a budgetary increase or any increase to the Council Tax payer.  The recommendations were then seconded by          Councillor Oppler.

Debate on this item saw concern being raised by some Councillors over the fact that other Cabinet Members had not declared an interest and that they had remained in the meeting for this item.  Having received further advice,   

            The Council

                        RESOLVED

That the Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) paid to all seven Members of the Cabinet be reduced to £7,280 to fund the additional Cabinet post.  The annual SRAs paid to Cabinet Members (including the Leader and Deputy Leader) be as follows:

Leader - £13,156 (£5,876 + £7,280

Deputy Leader - £9,360 (£2,080 + £7,280

Cabinet Members - £7,280

These changes to come into effect on 20 May 2020 with all other Allowances remaining unchanged.