Content

 
RECOMMENDED:      1)         
That the content and recommendations of the report of the
Independent Remuneration Panel dated November 2024 be
noted.
 
2)            
The Members Allowances for 2025-2026 set out in
Table 3 of this report are approved.
 
3)            
That the Members’ Allowance Scheme 2025-2029
attached as Appendix 2 be approved to come into effect on 1 April
2025 for a period of four years, subject to being updated with the
Members Allowances approved at recommendation 2 above.
 
4)            
That following the 2025-26 year, indexation be
applied to Members Allowances for 3 years in line with the
percentage increase to the national joint council for local
government pay services pay grades spinal column point
43.
 
5)            
That the Chief Finance Officer be delegated to
approve non-material revisions to the Members’ Allowance
Scheme, including the levels of allowances to reflect the current
figures after indexation has been applied.
 
Reason for
Decision
To
comply with the requirements of The Local Authorities (Member's
Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 and set the allowances for
2025/29.
 
The
Cabinet has had regard for the recommendations of the IRP and is
recommending to Council Changes to the recommendations on the items
set out in the report, including the reduction of the public
service discount (PSD) from 20% to 5% as it was deemed appropriate
to have a level of PSD, but not as high as that recommended by the
panel.
 
The
Cabinet noted that it is important that some
element of the work of members continues to be voluntary, but that
in accordance with the issued guidance, this must be balanced
against the need to ensure that financial loss is not suffered by
elected members, and further to ensure that, despite the input
required, people are encouraged to come forward as elected members
and that their service to the community is retained. Cabinet
considers that a 5% public sector discount is the appropriate
balance.