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 Committee considered a report setting out the recommendations arising from the further review.

Mr Barry Cushway and Mrs Rachael Roots attended the meeting  to present the report produced by the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel.  Mr Cushway explained that the Panel had produced a brief report that tried to reflect the changes that the Panel had understood had been made to the Council’s governance structure.  The Committee was reminded that the remit of the Panel was to develop an allowance scheme that would encourage wider participation and that the Panel needed to remain independent of the financial considerations of the Council.

A Member noted that there was no justification in the report for the reduction in the allowances paid to the Opposition Group Leaders.  Mr Cushway recalled that this had been a recommendation from the original report produced by the Panel in October 2012 and that the recommendation would have been based on meetings that had been held with Members.  Mr Cushway agreed that he would review the notes that had been taken at the meetings and would explain the reasons behind the recommendation following the meeting.  The response would be copied into the Committee Chairman.

The Committee considered the role of Vice-Chairmen.  The Panel Members suggested that it may be helpful to have a job specification for the role of Vice-Chairman and reported that they were happy to revisit the recommendation based on fresh evidence.

A Governance Committee Working Group had been established to consider the options for Members’ Allowances and the Group met on three occasions throughout August and September 2013.  The options considered by the Working Group included:

·         Option 1 – JIRP proposed scheme

·         Option 2 – JIRP proposed scheme less 15% for all allowances

·         Option 3 – Increasing from 85% of JIRP proposed scheme level in 2013/14 to 100% in 2016/17

The Working Group had also agreed that allowances should be paid to the Chairman of the Licensing Committee, the Chairman of the Sevenoaks Joint Transportation Board and the Chairman of the Health Liaison Board. 

The Governance Committee Working Group most favoured Option 2 because the cost could be contained within the current budget, and by reducing all allowances by the same percentage the differential between allowances as recommended in the JIRP proposed scheme could be achieved. 

The Chairman noted that inflationary increases had been in built within Option 2.  This option also included a substantial rise in the basic allowance paid to councillors.  The proposed increase would mean that councillors at Sevenoaks District Council would become the second best remunerated in the County.  The Chairman hoped that Members would be satisfied that the recommended option recognised the ward work that many members undertook.

Some Members expressed concerns with the recommended option.  One Member felt that Special Responsibility Allowances remained disproportionate to the Basic Allowance whilst another Member felt that increasing allowances for councillors sent the wrong message to staff who had experienced a pay freeze in recent years.

The Committee noted that under Option 2, the overall budget for Members’ Allowances had not increased.

Resolved: That Council be recommended to:

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

(b)   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’.