Agenda and minutes

The Chair declared a personal interest in Item 28, a report of the Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel concerning the review of Members’ Allowances 2017, as it included proposals for a Special Responsibility Allowance for his role. He advised that he would leave the meeting during discussion of that part of the report and return to take part in the debate on the other elements of the report.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2017.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2017 were confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There were no questions from members of the public.

To receive any petitions and deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

There were no petitions or deputations.

To consider the report of the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager which reports on the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) with regard to the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme and to seek a decision on an appropriate scheme for the payment of allowances in 2017-18.

The Committee received the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) with regard to the Council’s Members’ Allowances Scheme and to seek a decision on an appropriate scheme for the payment of allowances in 2017-18.

The Chair welcomed Peter Jones, Chair of the Independent Remuneration Panel, and thanked him for attending the meeting.

The Chair withdrew himself from the meeting and took no further part in the debate.

The meeting was chaired by the Vice Chair for this part of the discussion.

The Chair of the Remuneration Panel referred to the three recommendations as detailed in the report.  He advised the Committee that the report on the minor review had been prepared by the Council’s IRP Panel which consisted of three members and thanked his colleagues for their involvement. All views expressed by the Panel had been unanimous.

The Chair of the Remuneration Panel thanked the Chair of General Purposes Committee for meeting with them. He also thanked the Democratic and Electoral Services Manager for the excellent work she had undertaken and for being extremely helpful.

In response to a question from Councillor Hilton, the Chair of the Remuneration Panel confirmed that the Panel had only been asked to review the allowance for the Chair of General Purposes Committee. 

The Chair of the Remuneration Panel added that one Member had requested that the allowance for a particular Committee Chair should be increased. The Panel considered that changes to existing Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) should not be considered in isolation and that, as the role was already in receipt of an SRA, a minor review was not the appropriate time to consider any further changes. 

Councillor Hilton suggested that one area which could be looked at was the allowance for the Vice Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as the post worked closely with the Chair.  Councillor Hilton requested the Panel to consider this allowance at a future review.

Councillor Coole commented that he had submitted a suggestion which also requested the allowance for the Vice Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be increased.  He was advised that this would be looked at as part of a full review of Members’ Allowances.

The Committee were advised that the next full review would be undertaken in 2019.

The Committee had no further comments to make and agreed to recommend that a Special Responsibility Allowance be introduced for the Chair of General Purposes Committee from 1 April 2017.

The Chair returned to the meeting.

The Chair referred to paragraph 3.15 of the report referring to travel arrangements for Members. He questioned how a decision would be made if there was to be a disagreement over the suggested form of transport. He suggested this should be made clear from the start.

Councillor Haigh raised concerns that the Policy did not take into account the needs of Members and queried what would happen if a Member was offered a form of transport but chose not to use it. Councillor Haigh was advised by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

To consider the report of the Head of Planning proposing a further amendment relating to the Council’s scheme of delegation on planning matters in relation to applications received from Members and Council officers or their immediate relatives.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning which proposed a further amendment relating to the Council’s scheme of delegation on planning matters in relation to applications received from Members and Council officers or their immediate relatives.

Councillor Haigh explained that she had submitted a Motion at Council on 1 December 2016 regarding the existing delegation arrangements. The proposed amendment would provide a clear and unambiguous process that would maintain transparency in decision making. She referred to the significant risks which would be involved if the wording had not been amended. Careful consideration would need to be taken when referring to immediate family.

The Committee discussed the wording and agreed that the proposed amendment should refer to immediate family which would include parents, children and siblings (not cousins).

General Purposes Committee RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND to Council that:

(1)          The suggested changes to the Constitution set out in paragraph 3.5 of the report be approved.

Tuesday, 18 July 2017 at 6.00pm

Tuesday, 18 July 2017 at 6.00pm