Issue - meetings

Report attached.

It was moved by Councillor O’Brien and seconded by Councillor Bernstein that:

1.    That Council notes the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel dated November 2021 (Appendix 1)

2.    Following consultation with the Group Leaders, the Mayor and the Standards Committee Council consider the recommendations 1- 24 with a minor amendment to recommendation 13 to reflect the revised GM position

1.    Basic allowances for Members to be reset at £10,791. Note that the Basic Allowance continues to be deemed inclusive of all in-Council travel and subsistence costs and telephone allowance and that Schedule 2 of the allowances scheme is amended to reflect this situation.

2.    The Special responsibility allowance for the Leader is set at £32,733

3.    The SRA for the Deputy Leader is set at £19,424.

4.    The Cabinet members SRA is set at £14,568, Deputy Cabinet Members SRA to be reset at £2,185.

5.    SRA for the Chairs of the six main committees to be set at £8,093

Chairs of the main Committees (x6) -Overview & Scrutiny Committee/Children’s & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee/Health Scrutiny Committee/Planning Control Committee/Licensing & Safety Committee/Audit Committee

6.    That Members who sit on Licensing Hearings Panels who attend more than 6 meetings in any one year are paid an SRA as follows:

Meetings over 4 hours:                   £106

Meetings up to 4 hours:                  £53

As per current practice this SRA should only be paid to Members who are not otherwise in receipt of an SRA.

7.    The SRA for the Leader of the Main Opposition Group is reset at £10,683.

8.    The SRA for the Deputy Leader of the Main Opposition Group only be payable if the Main Opposition Group holds 20 per cent of seats (11) on Council and is reset at £4,273.

9.    That where there are two or more Other Opposition Groups then the recommended SRA of £5,342 should be divided on a pro rata basis and paid accordingly to Leaders of all Other Opposition Groups.

10.The SRA for the Deputy Leader(s) of Other Opposition Groups is reset at £1,870. This is only paid when an Other Opposition Group attains 10 per cent of seats (five) on Council. Where there are two or more Other Opposition Groups of five or more seats the SRA of £1,870 should be paid to their respective Deputy Group Leaders on a pro rata basis.

11.The Leader is paid a separate SRA of £6,000 as a Member/Portfolio Holder on the GMCA under the 2011 Order.

12.The SRA for the two Bury Members appointed to the GMTC is reset at £3,000.

13.The SRA for the two (now only one) Bury Council Members appointed to the GM Waste and Recycling Committee is reset at £1,500.

14.That the council discontinue the SRA for the Council’s appointment to the GM Pension Fund.

15.The 1-SRA only rule is maintained with the exception of the additional SRAs paid under the 2011 GMCA Order.

16.That for Shadow Portfolio Holders and Group Whips  it is not recommended an SRA is paid.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6