Cllr Fleming proposed and Cllr Mrs Davison seconded that (a) Option 2 – the Joint Independent Panel proposed increase less 15% for all allowances  - for the payment of Members’ Allowances be adopted; (b) the Governance Committee review relative ratios as part of the on-going review into the Council’s governance structure;  and (c) the Council formally record thanks to Barry Cushway, Rachael Roots and Susan Piggot-Foster MBE for their work in preparing ‘Report on revised allowances for Members following change of Committee Structure at Sevenoaks District Council, June 2013’.

In August 2012, the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel (JIRP) began a review into Members’ Allowances for 2013/14.  The review made a number of recommendations covering Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs), Carers’ Allowance, Travel Expenses and Pensions.  In June 2013, following a change in governance arrangements the Panel reviewed its recommendations regarding allowances payable under the new structure.  The Council considered a report setting out the recommendations arising from the further review.

A Member queried whether it was appropriate for a special responsibility allowance to be paid to the Chairman of the Joint Transportation Board, and requested that the Governance Committee investigate whether any additional payment was made to the County Council Member when responsibility for chairing the meeting rested with the County.

A number of Members expressed concern about raising the level of Members’ Allowances.  In response, the Leader of the Council suggested that the Governance Committee should also be asked to investigate whether there was a way in which Members’ allowances could be linked to the national pay agreement that existed for staff. 

Resolved: That

(a)   Option 2 – the Joint Independent Panel proposed increase less 15% for all allowances  - for the payment of Members’ Allowances be adopted;

(b)   the Governance Committee review relative ratios as part of the on-going review into the Council’s governance structure; and

(c)    The Council formally record thanks to Barry Cushway, Rachael Roots and Susan Piggot-Foster MBE for their work in preparing ‘Report on revised allowances for Members following change of Committee Structure at Sevenoaks District Council, June 2013’.