Agenda item

Further to the appointment of an Independent Remuneration Panel (‘IRP’) by full Council at its July 2023 meeting, a report outlining their review of the Council’s Member Allowance Scheme and recommended changes is presented to the Council alongside the recommendations of the Strategy and Resources Committee.

The Council received a report providing the Independent Remuneration Panel’s (IRP’s) review of the Council’s Member Allowance Scheme and setting out the recommendations of the Strategy and Resources Committee.

Councillor Neil Dallen MOVED the recommendations in the report.

Upon being put, the recommendations were CARRIED as below:

The Council expressed its gratitude to the Independent Remuneration Panel and unanimously resolved that:

(1)       The report and recommendations of the IRP are noted.

It was resolved with 21 votes for, 2 votes against, 3 abstentions and the Mayor not voting that:

(2)       The Basic Allowance for Members of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council for the year 2024/2025 should be increased using a structured formula from the current Basic Allowance of £4031.70 to Basic Allowance Option B (£5,736.90) subject to any indexation.

It was resolved with 20 votes for, 5 votes against, 1 abstention and the Mayor not voting that:

(3)       The SRA for the Chair of the Standards and Constitution Committee should be increased from 10% to 30% of the Basic Allowance from 1 April 2024.

It was resolved with 20 votes for, 5 votes against, 1 abstention and the Mayor not voting that:

(4)       The SRA for the Vice Chair of the Standards and Constitution Committee should be increased from 5% to 15% of the Basic Allowance from 1 April 2024.

It was resolved with 20 votes for, 1 vote against, 5 abstentions and the Mayor not voting that:

(5)       The SRA for Chair of Human Resources Panel should be withdrawn from the end of this municipal year.

It was resolved with 20 votes for, 2 votes against, 4 abstentions and the Mayor not voting that:

(6)       The SRAs for 2024/25 to be in accordance with those listed in Appendix 1 of the IRP report.

It was resolved with 23 votes for, 3 votes against and the Mayor not voting that:

(7)       The Council’s existing Dependants Carers Allowance continues without amendment.

It was resolved with 24 votes for, 2 votes against and the Mayor not voting that:

(8)       The Annual Indexation of Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances in line with the ‘cost of living’ percentage increase in staff salaries should be implemented from 1 April 2024 for the next two financial years.

It was resolved with 24 votes for, 2 votes against and the Mayor not voting that:

(9)       To fund any increases to the Members Allowances Scheme that arise from the above recommendations, officers will need to be tasked with identifying compensating savings/additional income within services.

It was resolved with 24 votes for, 2 votes against and the Mayor not voting that:

(10)    The Panel be instructed to review the Scheme on or before December 2025, as to the following specific issues:

(a)    A full review of Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) be undertaken, in particular the ‘One SRA per Councillor” rule;

(b)    Explore awarding a SRA for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, and

(c)    To review and propose a policy for pre-approved payments for travel, subsistence and attendance at conferences, seminars and other official Council business outside of the borough, having reviewed how this should work in future.