Agenda item

To seek Council preference on the application of the annual increase of Members’ Allowances, linked to the NJC Pay Award for staff 2022/23.

Full Council were requested to confirm their preference on the application of the annual increase of Members’ Allowances, linked to the NJC Pay Award for staff 2022/23.

         The Council had an approved Member Scheme of Allowances, based on recommendations received from an Independent Remuneration Panel. In order to ensure there was an appropriate annual uplift of allowances, the Scheme included reference to the annual NJC Staff Pay Award. Where the NJC Award allowed for an increase of staff pay e.g. 2% increase, a corresponding 2% increase would be applied to Member Allowances. In 2021/2022 the Pay Award was 1.75% and Member Allowances were therefore increased by 1.75%.

         For 2022/2023 the NJC Staff Pay Award was not a percentage increase, but application of a lump sum of £1,925 across all NJC pay points. Full time employees therefore received a £1,925 uplift on their current salary, this was prorated for part time employees. Unfortunately, this was not easily transposed into an uplift for Member Allowances. As a consequence, it was necessary for           Council to give instruction to officers on its application for this year.

The report outlined the background to the issue and some potential options for the resolution of this matter.

A recommendation for Council to approve Option 4 within the report, to waive any increase in Members’ Allowances for 2022/23, was MOVED by Councillor Jason Smithers and SECONDED by Councillor Helen Howell.

An amendment to the substantive motion was MOVED by Councillor Jim Hakewill and SECONDED by Councillor Charlie Best. The amendment read: -

“In view of the incredibly difficult cost of living circumstances our residents are currently enduring we propose that there be no increase in member allowances for 22-23 or 23-24 and that an Independent Panel Review be convened in 2024-25 to recommend Allowances for the new Council to be elected in May 2025.”

Following debate, a recorded vote was taken on this amendment.

Those voting in favour of the amendment – Councillors J Addison, V Anslow, C Best, S Brown, Leanne Buckingham, Lyn Buckingham, W Colquhoun, A Dalziel, D Dell, S Edwards, E Fedorowycz, J Hakewill, H Harrison, D Howes, B Jackson, M Keane, A Lee, P McEwan, J McGhee, Z McGhee, A Mercer, M Pengelly, S Rielly.

Those voting against the amendment – Councillors T Allebone, M Binley, J Bone, D Brackenbury, W Brackenbury, C Brown, L Bunday, J-P Carr, R Carter, J Currall, M Dearing, C Hallam, H Howell, P Irwin, I Jelley, K Lawal, G Lawman, L Lawman, P Marks, D Maxwell, G Mercer, H Pentland, R Powell, E Prentice, M Rowley, J Smithers, C Smith-Haynes, J Smyth, M Tebbutt, M Ward, K Watt, A Weatherill, L Wilkes.

Those abstaining – Councillors L Henson, M Tye, M Waters.

The amendment fell.

There was general support among Members that the pay award for 2022/23 should be waived, in recognition that Members had already received an uplift of 1.75% for 2021/22 and that independently the Allowance Scheme had been reviewed during 2022 resulting in an increase in Basic Allowance and some Special Responsibility Allowances.

A recorded vote on the substantive motion was requested.

Those voting in favour of the motion – T Allebone, V Anslow, C Best, M Binley, J Bone, D Brackenbury, W Brackenbury, C Brown, S Brown, Leanne Buckingham, Lyn Buckingham, L Bunday, J-P Carr, R Carter, W Colquhoun, J Currall, A Dalziel, M Dearing, D Dell, S Edwards, E Fedorowycz, J Hakewill, C Hallam, H Harrison, H Howell, D Howes, P Irwin, B Jackson, I Jelley, M Keane, K Lawal, G Lawman, L Lawman, A Lee, P Marks, D Maxwell, P McEwan, J McGhee, Z McGhee, A Mercer, G Mercer, M Nichol, J O’Hara, M Pengelly, H Pentland, R Powell, E Prentice, S Rielly, M Rowley, J Smithers, C Smith-Haynes, J Smyth, M Tebbutt, M Ward, K Watt, A Weatherill, L Wilkes.

Those voting against the motion – M Tye.

Those abstaining – J Addison, L Henson, M Waters.

RESOLVED that: -

(i)               An increase in Members’ Allowances be waived for 2022/2023.