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Council - Tuesday, 10th December, 2024 7.00 pm

December 10, 2024 View on council website
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Summary

This meeting of the Council included the scheduled discussion of a new Gambling Policy, and a report on the recommendations made by the Independent Remuneration Panel on Members' Allowances. The Council was also scheduled to receive a report from the Licensing and Regulatory Committee on a review of the Council's Gambling Policy, and a report from the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel on Members' Allowances.

Please note that this article only describes what was scheduled to be discussed in the meeting. It is not possible to know what was actually said, or whether any of the items on the agenda were approved or rejected without access to the meeting's minutes or transcripts.

Proposed changes to the Council's Gambling Policy

The Council was scheduled to discuss a report on a review of its Gambling Policy1. The report described a public consultation process, which received two responses, one from GamCare2, the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling, and one from Councillor Steve Williams.

GamCare welcomed the position that Waverley Borough Council was taking to go beyond the mandatory and default conditions of the Gambling Act 2005, and encouraged the council to develop a local picture of the level of gambling harms.

Councillor Williams asked the Council to consider engaging with the NHS on the policy, a request which the report suggested had already been fulfilled.

The report also noted that Waverley currently has 5 betting shops, and usually receives one Temporary Use Notice3 per year for a 'Point to Point' horse race at Peper Harow. Waverley issues small society lottery licences, but it does not have any casinos, tracks, bingo halls, or family entertainment centres.

The Council was scheduled to discuss whether to approve the revised Statement of Gambling Policy.

Proposed changes to Members' Allowances

The Council was scheduled to discuss the recommendations from the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel on Members' Allowances4.

The panel recommended that the basic allowance for Councillors should be increased from £5,844.84 to £6,200.06. It recommended removing the current tax-free status of the first £633 of the Basic Allowance. It also recommended that the roles of Chair of Scrutiny Committees, Chair of Planning Committee and the Principal Opposition Leader be enhanced to 100% of the Basic Allowance.

The panel recommended introducing a new allowance for Political Group Leaders set at Tier 6, but suggested that this would only be payable if the Group Leader was not undertaking another Special Responsibility Allowance5 role.

The panel suggested that a new Dependents' Carers' Allowance be included in the scheme of allowances for those councillors who necessarily incur expense in arranging for the care of (i) their children, aged 13 or under, or (ii) one or more persons that normally reside in their household and for whom they are a registered carer, to enable them to undertake any approved duty, up to a maximum of £600 per annum per councillor. They suggested that the allowance be paid as a re-imbursement of incurred expenditure against receipts. The panel also recommended a second level of Dependents' Carers Allowance for specialist care provided at cost and that this be paid without limit upon production of receipts and requiring medical evidence that this type of care is required. They suggested that this allowance would not be taxable and would apply for councillors with caring responsibility for persons of any age.

Finally, the panel suggested that co-optees to the Council receive 5% of the Basic Allowance for their duties.

The report asked the Council to approve a new scheme of councillors' allowances that took into account the Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendations.


  1. The Gambling Act 2005 requires local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to produce a 'Statement of Gambling Policy', which sets out how they will carry out their licensing responsibilities for gambling activities. 

  2. GamCare is the leading provider of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms. 

  3. A Temporary Use Notice is a notice that can be given to a Licensing Authority to allow gambling to take place on premises for a maximum of 28 days in a calendar year. 

  4. Members' Allowances are payments made to Councillors to compensate them for the time they spend carrying out their duties.  

  5. A Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) is an additional payment made to Councillors who have specific responsibilities, such as being the Leader of the Council, or the Chair of a Committee. 

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Andy MacLeod
Councillor Andy MacLeod  Chair, Standards & General Purposes Committee; Brightwells Champion •  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Moor Park
Profile image for Councillor John Robini
Councillor John Robini  Vice-Chair, Standards & General Purposes Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Haslemere West
Profile image for Councillor Lauren Atkins
Councillor Lauren Atkins  The Conservative Party •  Bramley & Wonersh
Profile image for Councillor Steve Williams
Councillor Steve Williams  Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability: Green and Aligned Independant Group Leader •  Green Party •  Godalming Binscombe & Charterhouse
Profile image for Councillor Ruth Reed
Councillor Ruth Reed  Liberal Democrats •  Cranleigh East
Profile image for Councillor David Beaman
Councillor David Beaman  Farnham Residents •  Farnham North West
Profile image for Councillor Adam Duce
Councillor Adam Duce  Liberal Democrats •  Godalming Holloway
Profile image for Councillor Michael Goodridge MBE
Councillor Michael Goodridge MBE  The Conservative Party •  Bramley & Wonersh
Profile image for Councillor Kika Mirylees
Councillor Kika Mirylees  Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Leisure and EDI •  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Firgrove
Profile image for Councillor Victoria Kiehl
Councillor Victoria Kiehl  Executive Portfolio Holder for Organisational Development and Governance •  Liberal Democrats •  Godalming Central & Ockford
Profile image for Councillor Philip Townsend
Councillor Philip Townsend  Vice-Chair, Overview & Scrutiny - Services •  Liberal Democrats •  Cranleigh East
Profile image for Councillor Dave Busby
Councillor Dave Busby  Liberal Democrats •  Chiddingfold
Profile image for Councillor Jerome Davidson
Councillor Jerome Davidson  Liberal Democrats •  Hindhead & Beacon Hill
Profile image for Councillor Richard Steijger
Councillor Richard Steijger  Liberal Democrats •  Farnham Weybourne
Profile image for Councillor Gemma Long
Councillor Gemma Long  Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and IT •  Liberal Democrats •  Elstead & Peper Harow
Profile image for Councillor Peter Clark
Councillor Peter Clark  Farnham Residents Group Leader •  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Rowledge
Profile image for Councillor Peter Nicholson
Councillor Peter Nicholson  Liberal Democrats •  Haslemere East
Profile image for Councillor Alan Morrison
Councillor Alan Morrison  Liberal Democrats •  Cranleigh West
Profile image for Councillor Daniel Husseini
Councillor Daniel Husseini  The Conservative Party •  Godalming Binscombe & Charterhouse
Profile image for Councillor Phoebe Sullivan
Councillor Phoebe Sullivan  The Conservative Party •  Witley & Milford
Profile image for Councillor Terry Weldon
Councillor Terry Weldon  Liberal Democrats •  Haslemere East
Profile image for Councillor Connor Relleen
Councillor Connor Relleen  The Conservative Party •  Alfold Dunsfold & Hascombe
Profile image for Councillor Ken Reed
Councillor Ken Reed  Liberal Democrats •  Cranleigh East
Profile image for Councillor David Munro
Councillor David Munro  Independent •  Western Commons
Profile image for Councillor Michaela Wicks
Councillor Michaela Wicks  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Heath End
Profile image for Councillor Penny Rivers
Councillor Penny Rivers  Mayor of Waverley 2025/26 •  Liberal Democrats •  Godalming Farncombe & Catteshall
Profile image for Councillor James Staunton
Councillor James Staunton  The Conservative Party •  Western Commons
Profile image for Councillor Laura Cavaliere
Councillor Laura Cavaliere  Liberal Democrats •  Witley & Milford
Profile image for Councillor Michael Higgins
Councillor Michael Higgins  Liberal Democrats •  Ewhurst & Ellens Green
Profile image for Councillor John Ward
Councillor John Ward  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Rowledge
Profile image for Councillor Tony Fairclough
Councillor Tony Fairclough  Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Enforcement and Regulatory Services; Deputy Leader of the Farnham Resident's Group •  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Heath End
Profile image for Councillor Kevin Deanus
Councillor Kevin Deanus  The Conservative Party •  Alfold Dunsfold & Hascombe
Profile image for Councillor George Murray
Councillor George Murray  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Bourne
Profile image for Councillor Jerry Hyman
Councillor Jerry Hyman  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Firgrove
Profile image for Councillor Janet Crowe
Councillor Janet Crowe  Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery) •  Independent •  Godalming Farncombe & Catteshall
Profile image for Councillor Carole Cockburn BEM
Councillor Carole Cockburn BEM  Deputy Leader of the Principal Opposition Group; Chair, Overview & Scrutiny -Services •  The Conservative Party •  Farnham Bourne
Profile image for Councillor Zoe Barker-Lomax
Councillor Zoe Barker-Lomax  The Conservative Party •  Haslemere East
Profile image for Councillor Liz Townsend BEM
Councillor Liz Townsend BEM  Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development; Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrat Group •  Liberal Democrats •  Cranleigh West
Profile image for Councillor Paul Rivers
Councillor Paul Rivers  Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Operations and Services) •  Liberal Democrats •  Godalming Binscombe & Charterhouse
Profile image for Councillor Graham White
Councillor Graham White  Farnham Residents •  Farnham North West
Profile image for Councillor George Hesse
Councillor George Hesse  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Castle
Profile image for Councillor Jane Austin
Councillor Jane Austin  Conservative Group Leader; Leader of the Principal Opposition Group •  The Conservative Party •  Bramley & Wonersh
Profile image for Councillor Jacquie Keen
Councillor Jacquie Keen  Chair, Licensing & Regulatory Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Haslemere West
Profile image for Councillor Andrew Laughton
Councillor Andrew Laughton  Vice-Chair, Overview & Scrutiny - Resources •  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Weybourne
Profile image for Councillor Maxine Gale
Councillor Maxine Gale  Independent •  Witley & Milford
Profile image for Councillor Mark Merryweather
Councillor Mark Merryweather  Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Property •  Liberal Democrats •  Farnham Moor Park
Profile image for Councillor Peter Martin
Councillor Peter Martin  Chair Overview & Scrutiny - Resources •  The Conservative Party •  Godalming Holloway
Profile image for Councillor Julian Spence
Councillor Julian Spence  Chair, Audit & Risk Committee •  Liberal Democrats •  Hindhead & Beacon Hill
Profile image for Councillor Paul Follows
Councillor Paul Follows  Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder for Policy, Governance and Communications; Liberal Democrats Group Leader •  Liberal Democrats •  Godalming Central & Ockford
Profile image for Councillor Alan Earwaker
Councillor Alan Earwaker  Farnham Residents •  Farnham Castle

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

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