Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Employment in Hampshire County Council Committee regarding amendment to the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2021/22, and Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26

The Council considered the report of the Employment in Hampshire County Council (EHCC) Committee seeking approval of an amendment to the Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2021/22 and setting a Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, as presented by Councillor Stephen Reid.

Councillor Crawford noted that the Opposition Leader formula used to determine whether a Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) be paid was adopted some time ago and requested that this be reviewed.  Councillor Reid suggested that Councillor Crawford write to him with supporting information with a view to it being considered by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council, taking into account the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel, approves:

a)        An SRA of £4,645 per annum (25% of an Executive Member SRA) be payable to the Assistant to the Executive – Adult Services and Public Health from the date of appointment to this role (13 July 2021) and reviewed again in 12 months’ time.

b)      An SRA of £4,645 per annum (25% of the SRA for an Executive Member) be payable to the Assistant to the Executive – Children’s Services from the date of appointment to this role (13 July 2021) and reviewed again in 12 months’ time.

c)      That the list of approved duties for the purposes of payment of travelling and other relevant expenses should include the role of Assistant to the Executive.

d)      An SRA of £3,097 per annum (25% of the SRA for a Select Committee Chairman) be payable to the Chairman of the River Hamble Harbour Board from the date of appointment to this role (County Council AGM on 27 May 2021) and reviewed again in 12 months’ time.

e)      That the present formula for calculation of an SRA to the Leader of a Minority Political Group on the County Council when a Minority Political Group comprises four or more Members should remain.

f)       A Members’ Allowances Scheme for the years 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26, whereby Basic Allowances and Special Responsibility Allowances payable to Members are adjusted from 1 April 2022, and thereafter annually, in line with the Pay Award (if any) for Senior Managers at Grade H.