Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 26, 2025

Purpose: To agree a Members' Allowances Scheme

Content:   Noted that all Councils are required to make an annual scheme for the payment of allowances to Councillors and the scheme must include a Basic Allowance payable equally to all Councillors and may include provision for Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs).   Noted that historically, the Councillors scheme of allowances has been frozen over several years, which in turn has meant that the current allowances are below the recommended levels in the London Councils’ Independent Remuneration Panel Report (Section 5 and Appendix A).   Noted that the Basic Allowance was increased in 2024/25 in line with the headline figure of the annual local government pay settlement but there was no increase in the rate of SRAs.   Noted that at the meeting of Council on 16 March 2022, it was agreed to re-adopt the London Councils’ Independent Remuneration Panel for the purposes of advising the Royal Borough of Greenwich in formulating its Members’ Allowances Scheme for the next four municipal years (2022/23–2025/26) as each authority must have regard to the recommendations of such an independent panel.   Noted that the Independent Remuneration Panel recommends that all allowances should be increased annually in accordance with the headline figure of the annual local government pay settlement.   Noted that the Independent Remuneration Panel report published in December 2023, recommends that the rate of Basic Allowance be set at £15,960 following a more detailed review post its scheduled review in 2022 (the next review will be published in 2026 in preparation for the London local elections and the start of new administrations in May 2026).   Agreed to increase the rate of the Basic Allowance for 2025/26 in line with the fixed percentage increase applied to allowances in the Local Government Pay Settlement   Agreed to increase the Special Responsibility Allowances in line with the fixed percentage increase applied to allowances in the Local Government Pay Settlement.   Agreed to increase the rate of Childcare and Dependent Carers’ Allowance to £13.85 to match the rate of the London Living Wage   Agreed to amend the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2025/26 as attached at Appendix B and agree that Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution be updated accordingly.   Noted that, in the decision taken by Full Council in March 2024, the Special Responsibility Allowances for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were removed from the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2024-25, as per Schedule 2 paragraph 2 (4) and Schedule 2 paragraph 5 (4) of the Local Government Act 1972.   Noted that the Scheme will be kept under review and updated as necessary.