Decision details

1.

That the Independent Remuneration Panel be thanked for their work in producing the report at Appendix A.

2.

That the Council agrees the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for revisions to the Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix A to the report, subject to: 

(i)    The proposed Special Responsibility Allowance for the Deputy Leaders referred to on page 58 of the report being amended to read as follows:

Deputy Leader (Statutory)                    

£8,290

The Special Responsibility Allowance for all other Cabinet members (except the Leader) to be set at £7,650.

(ii)   Requesting the Independent Remuneration Panel:

(a)  To undertake a further urgent review in respect of the Special Responsibility Allowances awarded to the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee in order better to reflect the time commitment and responsibilities associated with those roles (the SRAs recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel in Appendix A to be applied to those roles until such time as further recommendations are received from the Panel); and

(b)  To review whether Special Responsibility Allowances should also be payable to this Council’s representatives on the Cambridge Fringes Joint Development Control Committee. 

3.

That, as recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel:

(i)    The Council approves the implementation of:

(a)  The increase in the Basic Allowance retrospectively with effect from 1 April 2019; and

(b)  The amendments to Special Responsibility Allowances and all other changes proposed in the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel with effect from 26 September 2019.

(ii)   The Basic Allowance be increased annually in line with the annual staff pay award to the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

(iii)  The Special Responsibility Allowances be increased annually in line with increases made to the Basic Allowance to the end of the 2021/22 financial year.

(iv) The number of Special Responsibility Allowances that any councillor may receive normally be limited to two and that paragraph 4(2) of the Scheme of Members’ Allowances be amended to read “No councillor may normally receive more than two Special Responsibility Allowances.”                                                                                                                                                                                                    

(v)  That the section on “Public and Other Transport” in Schedule 1 to the Scheme of Members’ Allowances be amended as set out in paragraph 3 of the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report.

5.

That the Interim Director of Corporate Services be authorised to implement and advertise the new scheme and make any consequential amendments to the Scheme of Members’ Allowances in Part 6 of the Constitution.

6.

That no further action be taken at this time with regard to review of the possible award of Special Responsibility Allowances in respect of  any Executive Committees to be established by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, and that further information be awaited about the proposed arrangements for such committees.