Review of Members' Allowances : Executive on 28/10/2003

Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document

Meeting of the Executive held on 28/10/2003
Review of Members' Allowances

Summary & Purpose

This report updates Members on the current position on the review of Members’ allowance. It may have resource implications depending, firstly, on the final recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and, secondly, on the decisions of the Council on these recommendations.

Quality of Life Implications

Natural Resource Use	Pollution Prevention and Control	Biodiversity and Nature	Local Environment	Social Inclusion	Safe, Healthy and Active Communities	Local Economy
N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Positive	N/A	N/A

APPENDIX D

WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE – 28TH OCTOBER 2003

Title:

REVIEW OF MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES

[Wards Affected: N/A]

Summary and purpose:

This report updates Members on the current position on the review of Members’ allowance. It may have resource implications depending, firstly, on the final recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel and, secondly, on the decisions of the Council on these recommendations.

E-Government implications:

There are no proposals at present to allow Members to claim their travel allowances online, but this could be looked at in future.

Resource and legal implications:

The review has to be undertaken because of changes to Regulations by the Government. The Council has to adopt a new scheme by the end of December 2003 and must have regard to the Independent Panel’s recommendations.

There is no provision in the 2003/04 estimates to implement any of the Independent Remuneration Panel’s previous recommendations.

Current Position

1. The Independent Remuneration Panel was asked in July 2003 to review the changes introduced by Government to the Members Allowance Regulations, which included:-

possible payment of a basic allowance to Town and Parish Council Members;

possible payment of travel and subsistence allowances to Town and Parish Councillors for journeys and duties within the Town or Parish;

possible eligibility for the Local Government Pension Scheme for some or all Waverley Borough Council Members;

proposals for allowances for Waverley Borough Council co-opted Members; and

proposals for revising the Waverley travel and subsistence scheme for Members.

Independent Remuneration Panel 2002 Review

2. The Independent Remuneration Panel consists of five Members and is chaired by Mr M Clark. The Panel is shared with Guildford Borough Council.

3. The Panel reported last in October 2002, but although the report was considered very thoroughly by both the Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Committees, the Executive eventually resolved not to adopt any of the Panel’s recommendations, but to refer the report (copy attached at Annexe 1) to the new Council. The proposed changes had significant financial implications. Subsequently, in February 2003, the Council increased basic and special responsibility allowances by schedule to the level of the staff pay award, with effect from 1st April 2003. A copy of the current allowances scheme is attached at Annexe 2.

Current Review by the Independent Remuneration Panel

4. The Panel is now coming towards conclusions on areas such as Superannuation for Waverley Members. The Panel also proposes reviewing its recommendations of last year on the levels of basic and special responsibility allowances for Waverley Members. It will report so as to enable the Council to carry out a complete review in time for adopting a new scheme by the end of December 2003, with agreed proposals for any increases of allowances for 2004/5 to be included in next year’s budget-setting process.

5. The Independent Remuneration Panel will report to the Executive meeting to be held on 2nd December and the Executive’s recommendations will then be considered by Council on 16th December. This will allow for the Council to adopt a new scheme to meet the Government’s deadline.

Parish Remuneration Panel

6. The same independent panel is carrying out the review of Parish basic and travel allowances in a separate role. It will report to all Towns and Parishes in the Borough and its initial conclusions having canvassed Parish Councils and interviewed Members are not to recommend any basic allowance for Town and Parish Members but to support payment of travel and subsistence allowances.

Resource Implications

7. As explained above, there is currently no provision for any increase in Members’ Allowances to implement any of the suggestions of the Independent Remuneration Panel on increasing some special responsibility allowances. Any resource implications would depend on the final decision of the Council on what, if any, increases it wanted to adopt. Any increase in costs for future years will need to be considered as part of the budget-setting process.

Recommendation

To enable the Executive and Council to give full consideration to this matter in the December cycle of meetings, the Executive is recommended to:

1. endorse the proposal for the Independent Panel to review its recommendations of October 2002 and report to the December Executive meeting; and

2. refer this report to the Party Groups so that they can consider their position on members’ allowances in good time for the December meetings.

Background Papers (CEx)

There are no background papers (as defined by Section 100D(5) of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to this report.

CONTACT OFFICER:

Name: Mr R Pellow Telephone: 01483 523222

E-mail: rpellow@waverley.gov.uk

comms/executive/2003-04/300