Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Further to Minute No. 15 of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 3 February 2011 and Minute No. 214 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17 February 2011, the Council considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services on proposals submitted by the Independent Remuneration Panel for a reduction in the 2011/12 Scheme of Members' Allowances.

It was moved by Councillor Robertson, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to

(1)       the recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel in paragraph 2.2 of the report;

(2)       the changes being implemented with effect from 1 April 2011;

(3)       the proposed Scheme of Members' Allowances set out in Annex A of the report; and

(4)       the Independent Remuneration Panel being asked to formally review the full Members' Allowances Scheme during 2011/12.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Further to Minute No. 15 of the meeting of the Standards Committee held on 3 February 2011, the Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services on proposals submitted by the Independent Remuneration Panel for a reduction in the 2011/12 Scheme of Members' Allowances.

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations be submitted to the Council for consideration on 3 March 2011:

(1)       That the recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel in paragraph 2.2 of the report be accepted.

(2)       That the changes be implemented with effect from 1 April 2011.

(3)       That the proposed Scheme of Members Allowances set out in Annex A of the report be accepted; and

(4)       That the Independent Remuneration Panel be asked to formally review the full Members' Allowances Scheme during 2011/12.

Report of the Director of Corporate Services

Further to Minute No. 5(1) of the meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) held on 14 December, 2010, the Committee considered the report of the Director of Corporate Services seeking a decision on a recommendation of the IRP that:

"(1)      in order to show leadership during the current harsh economic times, the Cabinet/Council be recommended to reduce the Basic Allowance by 5%, such reduction to take effect from the commencement of the financial year 2011/12.  This would restore the discrepancies in the multipliers used to calculate the special Responsibility Allowances;

(2)       a meeting of the Panel be held at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 16 March 2011 at Southport Town Hall;

(i)to commence the review of Members' Allowances for 2012/13; and

(ii)in order to formulate an objective view of the Members' Allowance Scheme, to receive a presentation on the responsibility of functions and volume of work of Cabinet Member portfolios and Committees and any changes made due to the recently announced Localism Bill;

(3)       a meeting of the Panel be held at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 7 September 2011 at Bootle Town Hall to:

(i)formulate recommendations for submission to the Council on the Members' Allowance Scheme for 2012/13; and

(ii)receive a presentation from the Head of Corporate Finance and Information Services on the up to date financial position of the Council; and

(4)       the decision making model referred to above, namely that the Panel meets in March and September, be continued in subsequent years."

The report indicated that the proposals suggested by the IRP would generate a total budget saving in 2011/12 of £50,865 (including on costs).

A copy of the proposed scheme of Members' Allowances was attached as Annex A to the report.

RESOLVED:   That Cabinet and Council be recommend to:

(1)            approve the recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the report;

(2)            implement the changes with effect from 1 April 2011;

(3)            approve the proposed Scheme of Members Allowances as detailed in Annex A; and

(4)            request the Independent Remuneration Panel to formally review the full Scheme during 2011/12.