Council considered a report by the Chief Executive (circulated previously) regarding the Scheme of Members Allowances for 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.

It was moved by Councillor Walker and seconded by Councillor Davies “that the recommendations in the report and option 2 for the setting of the Basic Allowance for 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 be adopted.”

It was moved by Councillor Bushell and seconded by Councillor Jones that a recorded vote be taken.  Upon being put to the vote, this motion was lost.  Therefore the vote was taken by a show of hands.

RESOLVED that further to the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel as detailed in paragraph 4.31 of the report:

(a)  That the principle aspects to be reflected in setting the level of the Basic Allowance (as set out in paragraphs 15 in the Panel’s report as detailed in Appendix A and in paragraph 4.10 of the report) be accepted;

(b)  That the principle of an incremental progression towards a more robust and relevant Basic Allowance be accepted;

(c)  That an alternative recommendation for setting of the Basic Allowance for 2023/24, 2025/26 and 2026/27 be adopted and that it be increased by either the flat rate recommended by the Panel or the uplift in line with the staff percentage pay award for that financial year, whichever is the higher as follows:

                        i.         That the Basic Allowance for 2023/24 be set at £5,421 (which includes the flat rate of £250 and equates to 4.8% increase)

                       ii.         That the Basic Allowance for 2024/25 be set at £5,421 + the higher of £250 (which equates to 4.6%) or the staff pay %award.

                      iii.         That the Basic Allowance for 2025/26 be set at the previous year Basic Allowance for 2024/25 + the higher of £140 or the staff pay %award;

(d)  That the special responsibility allowance for Group Leaders for 2023/24 be calculated on the basis of the table below which also includes the Governance Element of 10% for each Group Leader:

(e)  That the roles that attract special responsibility allowances and the multiplier of basic allowance remain unaltered for 2023/24;

(f)    That the Travel, Subsistence and Carer’s Allowances, together with the approved duties to which they relate remain unchanged within the scheme;

(g)  That the Council notes the intention of the Independent Remuneration Panel to review the members allowances once the outcome of the 2023 election and any impact on member roles known;

(h)  That the Scheme of Members Allowances for 2023/24 to 2025/26 as shown in Appendix B and C be adopted.

Councillor Patrinos left the meeting.