Decision details

County Councillor Geoff Driver moved a report setting out the proposed Members' Allowance Scheme for 2018/19.

County Councillor David Whipp proposed the following amendment, seconded by County Councillor David Howarth:

The addition to the existing recommendation of "That the Leader's Special Responsibility Allowance be reduced by 10%, with pro-rata reductions to other Special Responsibility Allowances".

The amendment was put to the vote and was LOST.

County Councillor Paul Greenall proposed the following further amendment, seconded by County Councillor Paul Hayhurst:

In view of the recent 5.99% increase in Council Tax and the ongoing need for the County Council to make savings, the following modest reductions to the members allowance scheme will be made with effect from April 1st, 2018:

(i)  Councillors will not be entitled to claim travel expenses from home to County Hall as this should be treated as their normal place of work and covered by their basic allowance.

(ii)  Councillors will not be entitled to claim subsistence allowances when attending meetings at County Hall as this should be considered as covered by their basic allowance.

(iii)The special responsibility payments made to political group whips and secretaries will cease. 

(iv)In accordance with current and historical practice within Parliament, the percentage of Councillors who receive a special responsibility allowance will be set to a maximum of 22% of all elected members.

The amendment was put to the vote and was LOST. The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was CARRIED. It was therefore:

Resolved: - That:

The 2018/19 Members' Allowance Scheme, as presented at Appendix 'A' to the report now presented, be approved.