Agenda item

REPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SERVOCES MANAGER

 

To agree the Members' Allowances Scheme 2021/2022 having taken into account the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb proposed and Councillor Judi Billing seconded the proposals in the report.

 

Councillor David Levett proposed and Councillor Simon Harwood seconded the following amendments:

 

(1)       That there be an additional recommendation to thank the IRP for their work.

 

(2)       That the following words be added to the end of recommendation 2:

“Defer the application of the rise until 2022/23 .

 

The Service Director – Legal and Community advised that, in respect of the second part of the proposed amendment, any increase could not be deferred as Members would have to consider any report of the IRP next year.

 

Councillor David Levett proposed that the cost of living rise not be taken.

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb raised a point of order in that the recommendations should be taken as they stood

 

The Service Director Legal and Community advised that the proposed amendment to not take the cost of living rise was not a valid amendment as it negated the recommendation rather than amended it.

 

Councillor Sam Collins called for a recorded vote on recommendation 2.2 and a separate vote by raise of hands on recommendations 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4 together.

 

A recorded vote was taken regarding recommendation 2.2 the result being:

 

For:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, Clare Billing, Judi Billing, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Keith Hoskins, Mike Hughson, Ian Mantle, Sue Ngwala, Sam North, Helen Oliver, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir and Martin Stears-Handscomb.

Total For: 17

 

Against:

Councillors: David Barnard, Sam Collins, Morgan Derbyshire, Faye Frost, Jean Green, Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Tony Hunter, Steve Jarvis, David Levett, Jim McNally, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Michael Muir, Lisa Nash, Sean Prendergast, Mike Rice, Valentine Shanley, Carol Stanier, Claire Strong, Richard Thake and Tom Tyson.

Total Against: 22

  

Abstain:

Councillors: John Bishop and George Davies.

Total Abstain: 2

 

Therefore the motion was lost

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb proposed and Councillor Judi Billing seconded:

 

(1)       That the 2020/21 Members’ Allowances Scheme continue unchanged for 2021/22;

 

(2)       That the increase to the Independent Person and Reserve Independent Persons allowances as detailed in Appendix A and 8.9 of the report be agreed;

 

(3)       That the IRP be thanked for their work.

 

Upon the vote it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the 2020/21 Members’ Allowances Scheme continue unchanged for 2021/22;

 

(2)       That the increase to the Independent Person and Reserve Independent Persons allowances as detailed in Appendix A and 8.9 of the report be agreed;

 

(3)       That the IRP be thanked for their work.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that the Council meets its statutory requirements of an annual review and adoption of the scheme.

 

NB: At 9.20pm the Chair announced there would be a 5 minute comfort break.

Audio recording – 1 hour 1 minute 50 seconds

 

The Democratic Services Manager presented the report entitled Review of Members’ Allowances Scheme together with the following appendices:

 

·                Appendix A - Report and Recommendations by the IRP on the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2021/2022;

·                Appendix B - Proposed Members’ Allowances Scheme 2021/2022 with tracked changes (2020/2021 with proposed Scheme highlighted).

 

She advised that there was a correction to Paragraph 10.1 of the report in that, following further analysis of the finances, the recommended increases could be provided within the current budget, so no increase in budget was required.

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb proposed and Councillor Judi Billing seconded the proposals in the report.

 

Councillor David Levett proposed and Councillor Simon Harwood seconded the following amendments:

 

(1)       That there be an additional recommendation to thank the IRP for their work.

 

(2)       That the following words be added to the end of recommendation 2:

“Defer the application of the rise until 2022/23.

 

The Service Director – Legal and Community advised that, in respect of the second part of the proposed amendment, any increase could not be deferred as Members would have to consider any report of the IRP next year.

 

Councillor David Levett proposed and Councillor Simon Harwood seconded that the cost of living rise not be taken.

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb raised a point of order in that the recommendations should be taken as they stood

 

The Service Director Legal and Community advised that the proposed amendment to not take the cost of living rise was not a valid amendment as it negated the recommendation rather than amended it.

 

Councillor Sam Collins called for a recorded vote on recommendation 2.2 and a separate vote by raise of hands on recommendations 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4 together.

 

Councillor Levett asked for separate votes for each recommendation.

 

The following Members took part in the debate:

 

·                Councillor Sam Collins;

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Helen Oliver;

·                Councillor Claire Strong;

·                Councillor Daniel Allen;

·                Councillor Richard Thake;

·                Councillor Simon Harwood;

·                Councillor David Barnard;

·                Councillor Jean Green;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Judi Billing;

·                Councillor Sam North;

·                Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb.

 

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Manager clarified with relevant Members that a recorded vote would be taken regarding recommendation 2.2, Recommendations 2.1,2.3 and 2.4 would be taken together and voted on by raise of hands.

 

A recorded vote was taken regarding recommendation 2.2 the result being:

 

For:

Councillors: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, Clare Billing, Judi Billing, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Keith Hoskins, Mike Hughson, Ian Mantle, Sue Ngwala, Sam North, Helen Oliver, Adem Ruggiero-Cakir and Martin Stears-Handscomb.

Total For: 17

 

Against:

Councillors: David Barnard, Sam Collins, Morgan Derbyshire, Faye Frost, Jean Green, Simon Harwood, Terry Hone, Tony Hunter, Steve Jarvis, David Levett, Jim McNally, Ian Moody, Gerald Morris, Michael Muir, Lisa Nash, Sean Prendergast, Mike Rice, Valentine Shanley, Carol Stanier, Claire Strong, Richard Thake and Tom Tyson.

Total Against: 22

  

Abstain:

Councillors: John Bishop and George Davies.

Total Abstain: 2

 

Therefore the motion was lost.

 

Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb proposed and Councillor Judi Billing seconded:

 

(1)       That the 2020/21 Members’ Allowances Scheme continue unchanged for 2021/22;

 

(2)       That the increase to the Independent Person and Reserve Independent Persons allowances as detailed in Appendix A and 8.9 of the report be agreed;

 

(3)       That the IRP be thanked for their work.

 

Upon the vote it was:

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)       That the 2020/21 Members’ Allowances Scheme continue unchanged for 2021/22;

 

(2)       That the increase to the Independent Person and Reserve Independent Persons allowances as detailed in Appendix A and 8.9 of the report be agreed;

 

(3)       That the IRP be thanked for their work.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that the Council meets its statutory requirements of an annual review and adoption of the scheme.

 

NB: At 9.20pm the Chair announced there would be a 5 minute comfort break.