Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance

The Council considered the report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance that sought an amendment to the Council's Scheme of Members' Allowances in relation to Members who have been appointed to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee for 2017/18.

The Deputy Chair drew Members attention to the recommendation and reported that there had been a typographical error in relation to the Special Responsibility Allowance which should have read £5,675 and not £5,875.

RESOLVED:

That the Council be recommended to amend the Members Allowances Scheme to include a Special Responsibility Allowance of £5,675 per annum for each of the four Sefton Members serving on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee, along with the additional responsibility of the Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee and Lead Member Rail being paid an additional £9,975 as outlined within the report.

Report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Regulation and Compliance that sought an amendment to the Council's Scheme of Members' Allowances in relation to Members who have been appointed to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee for 2017/18.

The report indicated that prior to May 2017 the Merseytravel Committee was largely responsible for overseeing the Combined Authority’s transport responsibilities, including making recommendations to the Combined Authority and taking decisions on matters delegated to it by the Combined Authority; that from May 2017, this work is undertaken by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Transport Committee; that previously, the allowances paid to Sefton Members appointed to the Merseytravel Committee were paid by the Council and reimbursed by Merseytravel; but that from May, 2017 any allowances for Transport Committee Members must be paid and funded by each constituent authority within the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

The report also indicated that Councillors McKinley, Carr, Friel and Dodd had been appointed by the Council to serve on the Transport Committee; that it was anticipated that the Members would carry out roles which were broadly in line with the duties previously carried out on the Merseytravel Committee; and that in addition, and again in line with previous arrangements for the Merseytravel Committee, it was suggested that a Basic Allowance and a Special Responsibility Allowance (for specific duties on the Transport Committee as Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee and Lead Member of Rail) be paid as follows:-

Basic Allowance - £5,675;

Special Responsibility Allowance – Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee and Lead Member Rail - £9,975

The report advised that the changes to accommodate the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee allowances would create an annual revenue cost to Sefton of £32,675; that the Combined Authority would make similar savings as a result of the fact that it no longer pays Allowances to Merseytravel Committee Members; that as a result it was expected that a commensurate reduction in future levies to the Combined Authority would be used to net off the Council’s additional costs; and that discussions would need to take place with the Combined Authority to determine how the costs incurred in 2017/18 would be recovered as the levy had already been set for the year.

The report concluded that the governance arrangements for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee were currently being reviewed and any proposed changes would be reported to the Independent Remuneration Panel and Council in due course.

An addendum to the report, listing the Members of the Transport Committee, together with their positions held and allowances received, was circulated at the meeting, for the attention of the Panel.

Prior to the meeting, the Council’s Head of Regulation and Compliance / Monitoring Officer, had advised revising the proposal as a request for a payment under Regulation 5 (1) (d), which was a Special Responsibility Allowance.

RESOLVED:

That the Council be recommended to amend the Members Allowances Scheme to include a Special Responsibility  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4