Agenda item

Report No: COU/WS/20/004

Council considered this report, which sought approval for the Members’ Allowance Scheme and associated matters, following an interim review undertaken by the West Suffolk Independent Remuneration Panel.

In May 2019, the Council ratified the Scheme of Members’ Allowances that had been recommended to it by the West Suffolk Shadow Council. At that time, it was recognised that the scheme had been developed whilst the Council was forming and it was not fully clear how the Council may evolve.  With this in mind, Council had requested that a further review be undertaken “within the financial year to evaluate whether the scheme is working as intended or requires further amendment.”

Richard Cooper, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) was in attendance and was duly invited to present the report of the Panel. He explained that the IRP reformed in October 2019 and had received evidence from Councillors, through a survey and interviews; reviewed relevant guidance and legislation, and had also considered evidence from comparative authorities (which included the review of East Suffolk Council, which concluded in February 2020).

The IRP’s report was attached at Appendix 1.  In summary, the IRP were satisfied that the Scheme of Allowances was working as intended, and thus did not require further substantive revision. However, at the time of their previous review, the IRP had highlighted two specific areas which required further assessment before an allowance rate could be established, namely Cabinet support posts and minority group leaders.

As set out in their report, the IRP considered that at this stage, an allowance should not be provided to Cabinet support posts. However, taking into account the Members’ Remuneration Regulations 2003 which legally required the payment of an allowance to minority group leaders, and other evidence and expectations in respect of the role, the IRP recommended an allowance should be provided for minority group leaders at the following rates:

The IRP had also recommended a number of minor amendments to the scheme criteria, as set out in Appendix B to their report. Appendix C contained the full Members’ Allowances Scheme, approval of which was required.

Councillor Carol Bull, Portfolio Holder for Governance, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including placing her thanks on record to the IRP for their work on the interim review.  She added that it was proposed for this Scheme to be adopted until February 2024, at which stage a further review would be required.  The IRP had also suggested criteria, as set out in section 9 of their report, for when an interim review should be undertaken and it was proposed the Council should adopt these criteria.

The current IRP were appointed in September 2018, until 31 May 2021.  If the Council were to require an interim review to assess a minor amendment to remuneration, it would be more effective if the existing Panel could do so, given their knowledge and insight of the Council.  It was therefore proposed to extend their appointment to 31 May 2023, after which the Council could determine the appointment of the Panel for the required review in 2024.

In addition, the Council had previously agreed that the Panel should consist of a minimum of four members.  Originally, five members were appointed but subsequently, a member was required to resign, and the Panel had operated with four members for the current review.  It was proposed to continue with the present four members for any interim reviews. 

A detailed discussion was held on proposed remuneration for minority group leaders and some Members felt that a group of three was too few a number to attract an allowance and that this threshold should be raised to a minimum of five to sufficiently justify remuneration for their role.

It was subsequently proposed by Councillor Pat Hanlon that minority group leaders should only attract a Special Responsibility Allowance if their group comprised a minimum of five Members. This was duly seconded by Councillor Diane Hind. 

A debate ensued on the amendment to the substantive motion. Having acknowledged that it was a statutory requirement to provide minority group leaders with an allowance, the majority of Members felt that the Panel had carefully considered appropriate thresholds and allowance rates for minority group leaders based on evidence and information it had gathered from various sources, and therefore found the IRP’s proposal to be acceptable.

A vote was subsequently taken on the amendment. With 11 votes for the amendment, 32 against and 9 abstentions, the amendment to the substantive motion was lost.

The debate briefly continued on the substantive motion.

On the motion of Councillor Bull, seconded by Councillor Margaret Marks, it was put to the vote and with the vote being 43 for the motion, 5 against and 4 abstentions, it was

RESOLVED:

That:

1.       the Scheme of Allowances, as contained in Appendix C to the West Suffolk Independent Remuneration Panel’s (IRP) report (Appendix 1 to Report No: COU/WS/20/004), be agreed to February 2024;

2.       the proposed review criteria for the Scheme of Allowances as stated in section 9 of the IRP’s report at Appendix 1, be agreed; and

3.       the proposals regarding the appointment of the IRP, as set out in section 3 of Report No: COU/WS/20/004, be agreed.

(Mr Richard Cooper, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel, left the meeting at the conclusion of this item.)