Decisions

To inform of the need to amend Appendix B to provide clarity for users of the agreed strategic significance definitions, and present for approval the amendments considered necessary.

For the Portfolio Holders to approve the proposed amendments to Appendix B prior to publication.

The Council considered the report of the Business Manager - Financial Services which informed the Council of the activity undertaken by the Audit & Governance Committee during the 2022/23 financial year.

AGREED      (unanimously) that the Audit & Governance Committee Annual Report for 2022/23 be noted.

The Council considered the report of the Assistant Director - Legal & Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer which presented the final report and recommendations of the Members Allowance Independent Remuneration Panel which had been reconvened to review the current scheme given the increase in the number of Portfolio Holders.

During their review, the Panel also considered the special responsibility allowance made to the Leader of the Main Opposition Group, the current childcare and dependents carers’ allowance and the wording of the scheme in respect of the payment of allowances to Leaders of Minority Opposition Groups.

The Panel report was attached as Appendix A, and this had been considered at the Audit & Governance Committee meeting held on 27 September 2023. The points raised by the Committee and the response of the Panel were detailed in Section 2 of the report.

The panel report recommended that the existing SRA of £8,500 be paid to all Cabinet Members with portfolio (excluding Leader and Deputy Leader) with no changes to any other Special Responsibility Allowances. In addition, the report proposed changes to the wording of the scheme in respect to the limit on the number of special responsibility allowances payable and clarified the definition of Opposition Group Leaders. The report also recommended that the current rates payable for childcare and dependent carers’ allowances were increased from up to £10 per hour to a maximum level of the National Living Wage.

AGREED      (with 20 votes for and 14 against) that the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel on changes to the current scheme of Members Allowances as set out in their report, be approved.

In accordance with Rule 5.4 a recorded vote was requested and taken as follows: