Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Further to Minute No. 6 of the Independent Remuneration Panel of 30 June 2023, the Council considered thereport of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer advising of the decision of the Independent Remuneration Panel in recommending a Members’ Allowance Scheme for the period 2023/24 to 2026/27; and seeking a decision of Council on the recommendations.

Appendix A to the report set out a table of Members’ Allowances for 2023/24, showing an increase of 6.01%.

Following a debate on the matter, the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the recommendations within the report were agreed by 41 votes to 5 with 8 abstentions and it was:

RESOLVED: That

(1)      an increase in Members’ allowances for 2023/24, be linked to the local government pay settlement;

(2)      spinal column point 25 be used to calculate the increase in Members’ allowances thereby increasing such allowances by 6.01%;

(3)      annual adjustments continue to be made in line with the local government pay settlement up to and including the 2026/27 municipal year;

(4)      the Special Responsibility Allowances paid to Chairs of committees be continued in their current form;

(5)      the calculation of the payment of Special Responsibility Allowances to Party Group Leaders be continued in their current form;

(6)      as soon as practicably possible, the scheme of Members Allowances for Sefton be published on the Council’s website and in the Metro newspaper circulating in Sefton;

(7)      the Constitution be amended to include the agreed Scheme of Allowances for 2023/24; and

(8)      the Independent Remuneration Panel be thanked for their deliberations on this matter.