Issue - meetings

Report number CHFR22 by the Corporate Head of Finance & Resources.

                                                                                                    [Enclosure]

[A copy of report CHFR22 and the accompanying report by the Remuneration Panel was previously circulated to members on 10^th November 2006.  Members are asked to bring these papers with them to the meeting.]

Note:  copies of the reports can be downloaded from the Council’s website:  www.southkesteven.gov.uk by selecting the Local Democracy menu, clicking on ‘Council Meetings’, and selecting the date of this meeting.

DECISION:

The recommendations detailed in report CHFR22 be accepted as detailed in paragraph 3 but with the following amendments:

a.      The removal of recommendation 17 in total.  

b.     That paragraph 18 be changed to read “The payments detailed in this report (1-15 and 19-21) to become effective for the municipal year 2007/08. ”

c.      Paragraph 16 be amended to read, “The council continues to pay travel and subsistence allowances to elected members and non-elected co-opted members at the existing locally agreed current levels, which are based on the revenue and customs tax allowances”. (These are exemplified in Part 6 of the members handbook and constitution on pages 242 (January 2005 issue) and 243-244 (October 2004 issue).)

d.      To add, “Indexation be applied to existing members’ allowances with effect from the start of the current municipal year. The base of indexation is to be the local government pay settlement which is 2.95% for the current financial year.”

e.      Any virement necessary to implement this be approved by cabinet.

The Corporate Head of Finance and Resources presented report CHFR22 that set out recommendations from the Welland partnership members remuneration panel.

The Resources & Assets Portfolio Holder spoke to the council about the recommendations, the panel’s remit and reminded members that no increase had been made to member remuneration despite a significant increase in workload. He moved that the recommendations detailed in the report be accepted as detailed in paragraph 3 but with the following changes:

f.        The removal of recommendation 17 in total

g.      That paragraph 18 is changed and now reads “The payments detailed in this report (1-15 and 19-21) to become effective for the municipal year 2007/08”

h.      Paragraph 16 is amended to read, “The council continues to pay travel and subsistence allowances to elected members and non-elected co-opted members at the existing locally agreed current levels, which are based on the revenue and customs tax allowances”. These are exemplified in Part 6 of the members handbook and constitution on pages 242 (January 2005 issue) and 243-244 (October 2004 issue).

i.        To add, “Indexation be applied to existing members’ allowances with effect from the start of the current municipal year. The base of indexation is to be the local government pay settlement which is 2.95% for the current financial year.”

j.         Any virement necessary to implement this be approved by cabinet.

A paper copy of the proposal was circulated to members and the motion was seconded.  The member also highlighted to the council paragraph 4.1 of the remuneration panel’s report, which referred to a perception that some members may not be putting in the time or commitment to their role, and that this was a matter for the council to address.

In support of the motion, a member spoke about how it would be wrong to make any decision that would affect the current budget and so the next municipal year was the appropriate time to change member remuneration. An increase was overdue, especially for executive members whose workload had increased.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97