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 That
Council: 

 

i.           
Rejects the recommendation that allowances be increased and back paid to members from 23rd May
2025 in respect of;  

 

a.     
A 1.5% increase of the basic
allowance; 

 

b.     
A 1.5% increase of SRA allowances,
to include leader and deputy leader of the council, executive
members, leaders and deputy leaders of the largest and second
largest opposition parties, chairs of
committees, and the civic
allowance for the Chair and Deputy Chair of the
Council. 

 

ii.           
Approves that: 

 

a.     
Only one SRA allowance to be
payable to any member; 

 

b.     
The number of SRA’s payable
at any one time that does not exceed 50% of Council Members (34
Members); 

 

c.     
The Special Responsibility
Allowance (SRA) for Chair of the Planning
Committee be set at the same level as Chair of the
Licensing and Appeals Committee; 

 

d.     
Mileage and Subsistence
allowances remain unchanged and in line with HMRC guidelines
and Council policy; 

 

e.     
Childcare and Dependents carers allowance remain unchanged at a maximum
of £6,500 per annum; 

 

f.       
The Local Government Association
(LGA) model parental leave policy be adopted; 

 

g.     
Co-opted Members and Independent
Persons allowance remains at £400 per meeting but to be uncapped,
paid only on attendance; 

 

h.     
The basic allowance and each of
the SRAs allowances be subject to an agreed annual indexation in
line with NJC national pay award to officers which covers inflation
and cost of living pressures. Should a fixed sum be awarded in any
particular year, allowances to be increased for that particular year in line
with the equivalent percentage increase in staff salary of that of
a deputy chief officer; 

 

i.        
No changes are made to the
Approved Duties as outlined in the Members’ Allowance
Scheme.