Agenda item

To consider the final report of the Independent Panel recently commissioned to review the basic, special responsibility and other allowances paid or reimbursed to Elected Members on City of York Council.

Cllr Steve Galloway moved, and Cllr Scott seconded, the following amendment to the recommendation in the report on the Independent Remuneration Panel’s review of Members’ Allowances, at page 37 of the Council papers:

“Insert at the start of the recommendation at paragraph 18 of the report (page 40): ‘That arising from the Independent Panel’s report,’.

Delete all after ‘Members are asked to’ and insert:

‘Agree that the following actions be taken:

(i)         That, effective from 1 February 2008, the Councillors basic allowance be increased by the rate of inflation since the last review (approximate 10% increase in basic allowance bringing it to £7,000 per annum & equivalent to the 4 year inflation increase awarded to local government employees)

(ii)        That the basic allowance be increased annually in line with the average annual inflation salary increase awarded to local government employees;

(iii)       That Members allowances to be pensionable with effect from 1 April 2008;

(iv)       That, subject to the implementation of appropriate audit and transparency safeguards, the current dependant carers scheme be extended to include a further allowance option, payable at £3.50 per hour up to a maximum of 3.5 hours, and which will be available for family members (other than those with parental responsibility) as from 1 February 2008

(v)        That no changes be made to current special responsibility allowance levels at the present time but that Group Leaders be asked to review the options for refining the payment levels available for individual posts prior to the Annual Meeting in May 2008, when new Council and Committee places are agreed.’”

The recommendation, as amended, now read as follows:

“That, arising from the Independent Panel’s report, Members are asked to agree that the following actions be taken:

(i)         That, effective from 1 February 2008, the Councillors basic allowance be increased by the rate of inflation since the last review (approximate 10% increase in basic allowance bringing it to £7,000 per annum & equivalent to the 4 year inflation increase awarded to local government employees)

(ii)        That the basic allowance be increased annually in line with the average annual inflation salary increase awarded to local government employees;

(iii)       That Members’ allowances be pensionable with effect from 1 April 2008;

(iv)       That, subject to the implementation of appropriate audit and transparency safeguards, the current dependant carers scheme be extended to include a further allowance option, payable at £3.50 per hour up to a maximum of 3.5 hours, and which will be available for family members (other than those with parental responsibility) as from 1 February 2008

(v)        That no changes be made to current special responsibility allowance levels at the present time but that Group Leaders be asked to review the options for refining the payment levels available for individual posts prior to the Annual Meeting in May 2008, when new Council and Committee places are agreed.”

On being put to the vote the above recommendation, as amended, was declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED: That the recommendation in respect of Members’ Allowances, as amended, be approved.¹