Issue - meetings

The recommendations will be proposed by Councillor Bray and seconded by Councillor Bill, with the following amendment:

“That paragraphs (viii) and (ix) be merged and amended to read:

(viii)     attendance by Executive members at meetings and events within the borough that directly relate to their lead member role on the invitation of an officer of the council or with prior consultation with the Democratic Services Manager or Monitoring Officer”.

Consideration was given to the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on members’ allowances. Members expressed their thanks to members of the panel for their thorough work.

Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor RG Allen, proposed that the recommendations be approved with and amendment to the list of approved duties to merge paragraphs (viii) and (ix) and to read “attendance by Executive members at meetings and events within the borough that directly relate to their lead member role on the invitation of an officer of the council or with prior consultation with the Democratic Services Manager or Monitoring Officer”.

Upon being put to the vote, the motion as amended was declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            The current level of allowances be maintained, with annual increases in line with officer pay awards as agreed previously;

(ii)           The ICT policy be reviewed in relation to use of members’ own IT equipment;

(iii)          The revised approved duties as amended above be approved;

(iv)         The panel be supported in its review of special responsibility allowances;

(v)          Consideration be given to reviewing the committee structure in relation to Audit Committee and Ethical Governance & Personnel Committee.

Members received the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members’ Allowances which recommended no increase in basic allowances or special responsibility allowances (SRAs) but recommended a future review of SRAs, clarification of approved duties and that the Council reviews members’ ICT and the committee structure.

The report was noted.