Content

Resolved
 

(1)         
That having given due consideration, the following levels of
allowances be included in the 2024/2025 Members’ Allowances
Scheme:
·        
That the Basic Allowance (currently £4836
pa)be increased in in line with the 2024/2025
staff pay award (percentage) when agreed, rounded up to give 12
equal payments and payment of the increase backdated to 1 April
2024.
·        
That all Special Responsibility Allowances be
increased in in line with the 2024/2025 staff pay award
(percentage) when agreed, rounded up to give 12 equal payments and
payment of the increase backdated to 1 April 2024.
·        
That A new Special Responsibility Allowance be
introduced for Minority Opposition Group Leaders from April 1
2024, based on the following
criteria:
o  
Group Leader of a minority opposition Group with 2
– 5 Members: 25% of the Main Opposition Group Leader SRA (if
required, rounded up to 12 equal payments)
o  
Group Leader of a minority opposition Group with 6
or more members: 50% of the Main Opposition Group Leader SRA (if
required, rounded up to 12 equal payments)
·        
That the co-optees allowance be increased in line
with the staff pay award for 2024/2025 (percentage), when agreed,
and rounded up to give 12 equal payments and payment of the
increase backdated to 1 April 2024.
·        
That the Independent Persons allowance be increased
in line with the staff pay award for 2024/2025 (percentage), when
agreed, and rounded up to give 12 equal payments, and payment of
the increase backdated to 1 April 2024.
·        
That Dependents’ Carers’ and Childcare
Allowances remain at the current level, are paid on the basis of
the actual costs incurred up to the maximum hourly rate set out
below and to a maximum cap of 40 hours per month, subject to
production of receipts and cannot be paid to a member of the
claimant’s household:
o  
Childcare: £10 per hour
o  
Dependent Relative care - £20 per
hour
·        
That mileage remain at the current level in line
with HMRC approved mileage rates, and if any adjustments are
implemented by HMRC then the revised rates should be applied to
Members’ travel allowances effective from the date of
implementation by HMRC.
·        
That there be no change to subsistence
allowances.
·        
That Democratic Services continue to book overnight
accommodation if required.
·        
That there be no change to the list of approved
duties for which claims may be made.
·        
That Non-Executive Director allowances be increased
in line with the staff pay award for 2024/205, rounded up to give
12 equal payments, and payment of the increase backdated to 1 April
2024 and costs recharged to the relevant company.
 

(2)         
That the Assistant Director Law and
Governance be authorised to prepare an amended Members’
Allowances Scheme, in accordance with the decisions of Council for
implementation with effect from 1 April 2024.
 

(3)         
That the Assistant Director of Law and
Governance be authorised to take all necessary action to revoke the
current (2023/2024) Scheme and to publicise the revised Scheme
pursuant to The Local Authorities (Member’s
Allowances)(England) Regulations 2003 (as amended).
 

(4)         
That the Independent Remuneration Panel for
its report and set a fee of £300 for each Panel Member for
the work carried out on this review and propose the same level of
fee for any reviews carried out in 2024/2025 capped at a maximum of
£1200 per person, which can be funded from existing
budgets.