Decision details

The Council considered the report of the Chief Executive which informed the Council of the report and recommendations of the Members Independent Remuneration Panel. A copy of the Panel’s report was attached as Appendix A. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations, a Panel was convened to review the current Scheme of Members Allowances, which was last approved by the Council on 6 February 2016, following the previous Panel report.

The Councillors’ Commission considered the Independent Review Panel report at their meeting held on 25 February 2021, and were minded to recommend Council to approve the proposed new Scheme of Members Allowances as set out in the Panel report, but recognising that the Council may consider that it may not be appropriate to implement at the current time. The Commission also wished to consider further the report findings in respect of the Planning Committee, but this would not impact on any implementation.

AGREED      (with 34 votes for and 1 against) that:

(a)          the Council thank the Independent Remuneration Panel for their report;

(b)          the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel be approved in full; and

(c)          the changes recommended by the Panel to the Members Allowances Scheme are not implemented at the current time given the ongoing pandemic, the constraints on public sector pay and the current review of the Council’s governance arrangements.