Issue - meetings

Members’ Allowance Scheme 2023/24 to 2026/27

 

 

Meeting: 30/06/2023 - Independent Remuneration Panel (Item 6)

6 Members’ Allowance Scheme 2023/24 to 2026/27 pdf icon PDF 411 KB

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought the views of the Independent Remuneration Panel on a Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2023/24 to 2026/27.

 

The report sought the views of the Panel on:

 

(1)

(a)

whether an increase in Members’ allowance should be recommended to Council and that if so;

 

(b)

should the increase be linked to one of the indexation options referred to in paragraph 4 of the report and that if so;

 

(c)

how long should the annual adjustments in accordance with the indexation continue (up to a maximum of four years);

 

(2)

the Special Responsibility Allowances paid to Chairs of committees as referred to in paragraph 6 of the report; and

 

(3)

the payment of Special Responsibility Allowances to Party Group Leaders as referred to in paragraph 7 of the report.

 

The following appendices were attached to the report to aid the Panel in their deliberations:

 

Appendix 1 – Current Scheme of Members’ Allowances

Appendix 2 - Liverpool City Region Local Authorities – Comparison of Members’ Allowances

Appendix 3 - Financial Impact of the Potential Indices

Appendix 4 – HMRC Employment Income Manual – Local Government Councillors and civic dignitaries in England: ODPM guidance: Part One: Members’ Allowances

Appendix 5 – Guidance Note for Councillors on the Scheme of Members’ Allowances

 

The Chief Legal and Democratic Services Officer presented the report and answered questions thereon.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That having taken Sefton Council’s current economic circumstances into account, the Panel recommends to Council that:

 

(1)

an increase in Members allowances, linked to indexation option (i), the Local Government Pay Settlement, referred to in paragraph 4, which has yet to be agreed, be implemented for 2023/24;

 

(2)

annual adjustments in accordance with the indexation option (i), the Local Government Pay Settlement, continue up to and including the 2026/27 municipal year;

 

(3)

the Special Responsibility Allowances paid to Chairs of committees, as referred to in paragraph 6 of the report, be continued

 

(4)

the payment of Special Responsibility Allowances to Party Group Leaders, as referred to in paragraph 7, of the report be continued.