Issue - meetings

Independent Renumeration Panel response to the Procedures Committee comments will be circulated prior to the meeting.

Members discussed the Independent Renumeration Panel recommendations.

They raised the following points:-

·       There was not a need for recommendation 1 it was negated by recommendation 2

·       The Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairs should report to Annual Council in May 2023 on the work they have undertaken in 22/23 to enable the new Council to review the Scrutiny Structure and work of the Scrutiny committees

·       The recommendation for the Chair and Deputy Chair of Council should not be split between allowance and support budget; work should be undertaken within 12 months to undertake a comparison of this allowance with Councils in Devon

·       A review of the Taxi Policy should be undertaken and added to the Executive Forward Plan

·       An alternative tiered approach to the Group Leaders allowance could be an option rather than a threshold of a minimum of five group members to trigger a Group Leaders allowance

·       The current Standards Chair allowance does not reflect the current work and time commitment of the role

·       The travel and subsistence should be reviewed to encourage sustainable travel with reference to the allowance for cycling and train travel

·       Parental leave policy would need further review to include foster cares, paternity entitlement and how to address confidentially with regards to the six-month attendance legislation

·       The approved duties should include attending a Teignbridge District Council meeting only not Town and Parish meetings

RECOMMENDED to Full Council to accept the recommendations below:-

1)    That the basic allowance continue to be upgraded in line with the percentage increase for LGE staff pay award for the previous year. However, for instances of a flat rate award (e.g. £1,925 each to all staff) the increase for Members Allowances be equivalent to the average percentage increase for the LGE staff pay award;

2)    That there is no increase in the special responsibility allowance for the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the Council; 

3)    That there is no increase to the special responsibility allowances for Executive Members and the Executive Member without Portfolio;

4)    That there be no increase in the special responsibility allowances for the Chairs and Vice Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees and a  the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Chairs should report to Annual Council in May 2023 on the work they have undertaken in 22/23 to enable the new Council to review the Scrutiny Structure and work of the Scrutiny committees;

5)    The special responsibility allowances for the Chair and Deputy Chair of Council remain as the status quo and a review should be undertaken within 12 months to ascertain what Councils in Devon do in respect of this allowance and expenses;

6)    The special responsibility allowances for the Chair and Deputy Chair of Planning remain as the status quo;

7)    The special responsibility allowances for the Chair of Audit Scrutiny Committee remain as the status quo;

8)    That no special responsibility allowance continue for the Vice Chair of Audit Scrutiny Committee;

9)    That the special responsibility allowances for the Chair and Deputy Chair of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17

The Chair of the Independent Renumeration Panel will attend to present the report.

This report will go to Full Council for consideration and approval.

The Chair of the Independent Renumeration Panel presented the recommendations of the Panel.

Members raised the following points:-

·       Recommendation 5 and 6 - The Overview and Scrutiny Chairs and Deputy Chairs Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) to remain at the status quo and be reviewed in 2023/24 following the 2023 Election;

·       Recommendation 7 and 8 - Concerns regarding the proposed separation of the Chairs/Deputy of Council SRA to an allowance and a support budget; should look to compare with similar Local Authorities;

·       Recommendation 14 - It was Council Policy that Licencing and Regulatory sub-committee determined extension of time for taxi applications relating to taxis over 10 year – did not support this being a  delegated function;

·       Recommendation 16 - The Standards Committee Chair SRA should be reviewed again by the IRP; Standards Committee Chair to provide the IRP with details of duties and time commitment;

·       Recommendation 14 - Council Policy was that Licencing and Regulatory sub-committees determined extension of time for taxi applications relating to taxis over 10 year - not in support of this being delegated to officers;

·       Recommendation 20 - Welcomed the Parental Leave Policy: discussion took place regarding the SRA proposed payments; noted the six-month attendance legislation;

·       Recommendation 21 – clarity regarding what constitutes a meeting that supports a travel claim; did this include Town and Parish meetings as this varies for each Ward Member; Group Leaders to ask their members views on what meetings could be covered.