Agenda item

Report of the Legal Director

The Council considered the report of the Legal Director which incorporated a copy of the report by the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) with regard to the Member Allowances Scheme.  The Standards Committee had considered the report at its meeting held earlier that day and had resolved to advise the Council that it had accepted the recommendations of the Panel with the exception of the implementation date for proposed revisions to the Special Responsibility Allowance payable to Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairs.

RESOLVED:   That

(1)       the IRP recommendations be noted and, while supportive of the principles, this Council believes that the overall Councillors Allowances Budget should be capped at the present level; and

(2)            accordingly, this matter be referred back to the IRP to consider how the IRP principles can be achieved whilst staying within the overall Councillors Allowances budget and the IRP be asked to examine the overall Councillors Allowances budget in the light of the current financial climate with a view to possible reductions in the budget.