Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Central Services presented a report on the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2015/16.

The Cabinet Member advised that, in view of the continuing pressures on public sector funding and the Council’s finances in particular, it was proposed that no changes be made to the scheme for 2015/16, representing a freeze in allowance levels for the seventh successive year.

Several Members spoke in support of the proposed freeze as a contribution to making best use of the Council’s money and the role of the previous portfolio holder in progressing the proposals was acknowledged.  Councillor Gill commented that he too supported the proposed freeze but placed on record his frustration at the removal last year of the right for councillors to participate in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), particularly bearing in mind the above-inflation benefits applied by the Government to the pension scheme available to Members of Parliament.  The Cabinet Member remarked that the removal of LGPS membership rights for councillors had led to a reduction of £100,000 in the overall Members’ Allowances budget and he added that he would support a continuation of the freeze of allowances for at least the next three years.

Assembly resolved to:

(i)  Agree that no increase be applied to Members’ basic and special responsibility allowances for the 2015/16 municipal year, representing a freeze in allowance levels for the seventh year in succession; and

(ii)  Adopt the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2015/16 as attached at Appendix A to the report, to come into effect from 21 May 2015.