Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Governance and Civic Services

Further to Minute No. 17 (4)(ii) of the meeting held on 21 January 2013 the Panel considered the report of the Head of Governance and Civic Services that provided data from other local authorities on their dependent carers’ allowances (DCA) schemes. 

The report indicated that the Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 provided for the payment to Members of an authority of a DCA; that Sefton’s Scheme of Allowances currently provided for this as follows:

“8. Dependents’ Carers’ Allowance

Members who incur additional expenses in order to arrange care for dependents may claim these expenses. This rate is based on the National Minimum Wage up to a maximum of £60 per week”;

and that one Councillor currently claimed this Allowance and the published table of allowances paid showed that this amounted to £1,263.85 in 2012/13 (equivalent to 0.16% of the total amount paid to Members).

Attached as an Appendix to the report was a table providing information on the levels of DCA in place across Merseyside and other neighbouring local authorities; and that the most recent survey of 386 local authorities in England, conducted by the Local Government Association in winter 2008, showed that a total of 324 authorities responded (83.9%) and that 89.5% of authorities offered a DCA at an average hourly rate of £7.83.

The Panel also considered correspondence received from an elected Member on this matter that stated that “the Carers’ allowance should be addressed as it’s not the tax payers responsibility to pay for Councillor child care”

The report concluded by requesting that the Panel review the information provided and determine whether any recommendations to Council should be made on this matter.

It was noted that the principle behind the payment of Dependent Carer’s allowance generally was to ensure equality in terms of candidates seeking election and that no-one felt unable to stand for election due to their caring responsibilities.

The Head of Governance and Civic Services reported that in reviewing the Dependent Carer’s Allowance payable within neighbouring authorities, it was intended that the guidance to Members be reviewed to bring this in line with others. This would not affect the published Scheme of Members Allowances or the amount payable. 

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the principle of the payment of the Dependent Carers’ Allowance be asserted; and

(2)      due to the increase in the minimum wage to £6.31 per hour and in order to maintain the payable allowance of 10 hours per week, the maximum Dependent Carers’ Allowance be amended to be based on a maximum of 10 hours a week rather than the current financial limit.