Members Allowances Independent Remuneration Panel

MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL

Note of a meeting of the Members’ Allowances Independent Remuneration Panel held on 25 September 2012 at the Town Hall, Lytham St. Annes.

Present: Rev. Peter Law-Jones, Chairman

Mr David Cam

Director of Resources

Head of Governance

(Mr Michael Brown was unable to be present at the meeting, but subsequently communicated his agreement with the recommendations of the panel members present)

The Head of Governance presented a report (a copy of which had previously been circulated to each member of the Panel) which addressed the following issues –

The review of members’ allowances for the year commencing 1st April 2013, including childcare and dependent carers’ allowance and travel and subsistence allowances;

Whether and what allowances should be paid to the new independent persons required to be appointed by the Localism Act 2011 in connection with allegations of member misconduct;

Whether and what allowances should be paid to the chairman and vice- chairman of the new Chief Officer Employment Committee; and

Whether mileage allowance should be paid for the leader of the largest opposition group to attend meetings of the Cabinet.

The report contained comparative data sourced from the Local Government Association and a historical tables and charts of allowances payable at Fylde since 2003.

Following a detailed discussion, the Panel noted that -

 In common with other councils, the financial settlement for Fylde continued to be extremely challenging. The council’s responses to the financial constricts had included a restructure of all levels of the organisation, a continuing freeze on salaries and a salary sacrifice scheme which had resulted in a reduction in take- home pay for all staff.  Councillors had not received an increase in their allowances for a number of years and that higher allowances would be likely to interest a wider demographic in serving as councillors.

 Nevertheless, in current the financial situation, it would not send the right message to council staff and the wider public if allowances were to be increased.

 Independent persons will be expected to give their time and expertise on an ad- hoc basis to support the new standards machinery. While they would do this out of a desire to serve the community rather than for reward, it was right that their commitment should be acknowledged by an honorarium in the form of an allowance. £500 per year would be an appropriate amount to do this.

 The workload of the chairman and vice-chairman of the Standards Committee under the new standards machinery was uncertain at present. Rather than rely on guesswork, it would be appropriate that their allowances remain as at present for the time being, with a note to reconsider them next year in then light of the operation of the new system.

 The Chief Officer Employment Committee was unlikely to have a heavy workload, and may have no workload at all. Payment of allowances for its chairman and vice-chairman would not be justified.

 The leader of the opposition has a legitimate role in attending cabinet meetings to enable her to question cabinet members and understand the basis of cabinet decisions. Paying travelling expenses would enhance her ability to carry out that role.

 Member champions had been discontinued and made the following recommendations:

 Maintain the present level of basic allowance and special responsibility allowances for 2012-13;

 Pay an annual allowance of £500 to independent persons appointed under section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011;

 Pay no allowance to the chairman and vice-chairman of the Chief Officers Employment Committee;

 Add the leader of the largest opposition party to the list of persons for whom attendance at a meeting of the cabinet is an approved duty for the purpose of payment of travelling and subsistence allowances; and

 Discontinue the allowance for member champions.