Issue - meetings

Report CSD22016

The regulations governing Members’ Allowances require that, before the beginning of each financial year, the Council shall make a scheme of allowances for that year, and this report details the proposed allowances for 2022/23. Until 2019 and 2020, when small increases were agreed, allowances had remained frozen since 2009 due to the economic circumstances and the pressure on the Council’s budgets. In 2021 the allowances remained unchanged.

If Members are minded to increase the allowances a reasonable guide would be the increase recommended for Council staff, which, subject to Member confirmation, is expected to be 2.25%. The Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Allowances are not part of the scheme, but are usually considered in conjunction with it. The scheme has to be agreed by full Council – this will be at the meeting on 28^th February 2022.

A Member commented that it had been the intention in 2021 to include attendance at Appeals Sub-Committee meetings in the quasi-judicial allowances, at the same rate as for Plans Sub-Committee and Licensing Sub-Committee meetings, and it was confirmed that this should be included. 

RESOLVED that

(1)  The proposed Members Allowances Scheme 2022/23 and the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Allowances be approved, with allowances retained at the current level, subject to inclusion of an allowance of £53 per meeting of the Appeals Sub-Committee.

(2) Council be recommended to approve the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2022/23 (appendix 2) and the Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral allowances for 2022/23 (paragraph 3.4) with allowances retained at the current level and with the addition of an allowance of £53 for the Appeals Sub-Committee.