Agenda item

The Scrutiny Board report is attached.

RECOMMENDED to full Council that the Councillors’ Allowances Scheme be amended as follows:

“Havant Borough Council

Councillor Allowances 2016-2020

A Councillor may only receive 1 SRA at a time

No more than 50% of the number of Councillors can receive an SRA

Joint HR Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman rotates annually with EHDC.

*Leaders of any political group, other than the ruling group, compromising two or more members to receive a Special Responsibility Allowance based upon the following formula:

Prior to the next programmed independent review, annual consideration of minor allowance changes will take into account any pay changes applied to staff salaries.

Additional Allowances

Mileage: To be maintained in line with the HMRC rate, currently 45p per mile. Passenger and cycle rates set at 5p per passenger and 20p per mile respectively. Claims to be made within six months of the date of travel. Claims may only be made to cover travelling costs incurred whilst carrying out approved council duties as a councillor. This does not include ward business or political activities, such as attending group meetings.

Taxi/Rail: There is a presumption in the scheme that, where practicable, councillors will pre-book rail journeys for council business via the council. Where this is not practicable, then a valid receipt/train ticket must be presented, along with reason for that journey.

Child care: up to £8.75 per hour.

Dependent relative care: up to the hourly rate for approved care providers within Hampshire County Council (currently £14.20 in 2015).

Claims for carers allowances must be accompanied with a receipt stating the date, hours worked and cost. Claims may only be made to cover the carer costs incurred whilst carrying out approved council duties as a councillor, such as attending council meetings.

Subsistence (meal) allowances: The council does not make subsistence allowances available for approved duties within the district. Maximum claims for meals to be maintained in line with the rates that can be claimed by officers, currently (2015):

· Breakfast = £5.73

· Lunch = £7.92

· Meal = £9.80

There is a presumption in the subsistence scheme that, where practicable, councillors will pre-book meals and accommodation through the council. Where this is not practicable, then the above subsistence rates are the maximum reimbursements, up to a maximum of £43 per day, including incidental subsistence costs.

This scheme was adopted by Havant Borough Council, after considering recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel, on 17 February 2016.

Under current legislation a new scheme must be adopted every four years, following a review from an Independent Remuneration Panel. The next scheme must be in place by April 2020.”

(Areas changed are shown in italics)

Councillor Branson presented a recommendation from the Scrutiny Board setting out proposed amendments to the Councillors Allowances scheme.

Proposed by Councillor Branson and seconded by Councillor Wade it was:

RESOLVED that the Councillors’ Allowances be amended and adopted as follows:

“Havant Borough Council - Councillor Allowances 2016-2020

A Councillor may only receive 1 SRA at a time

No more than 50% of the number of Councillors can receive an SRA

Joint HR Committee Chairman and Vice Chairman rotates annually with EHDC.

*Leaders of any political group, other than the ruling group, compromising two or more members to receive a Special Responsibility Allowance based upon the following formula:

Prior to the next programmed independent review, annual consideration of minor allowance changes will take into account any pay changes applied to staff salaries.

Additional Allowances

Mileage: To be maintained in line with the HMRC rate, currently 45p per mile. Passenger and cycle rates set at 5p per passenger and 20p per mile respectively. Claims to be made within six months of the date of travel. Claims may only be made to cover travelling costs incurred whilst carrying out approved council duties as a councillor. This does not include ward business or political activities, such as attending group meetings.

Taxi/Rail: There is a presumption in the scheme that, where practicable, councillors will pre-book rail journeys for council business via the council. Where this is not practicable, then a valid receipt/train ticket must be presented, along with reason for that journey.

Child care: up to £8.75 per hour.

Dependent relative care: up to the hourly rate for approved care providers within Hampshire County Council (currently £14.20 in 2015).

Claims for carers allowances must be accompanied with a receipt stating the date, hours worked and cost. Claims may only be made to cover the carer costs incurred whilst carrying out approved council duties as a councillor, such as attending council meetings.

Subsistence (meal) allowances: The council does not make subsistence allowances available for approved duties within the district. Maximum claims for meals to be maintained in line with the rates that can be claimed by officers, currently (2015):

· Breakfast = £5.73

· Lunch = £7.92

· Meal = £9.80

There is a presumption in the subsistence scheme that, where practicable, councillors will pre-book meals and accommodation through the council. Where this is not practicable, then the above subsistence rates are the maximum reimbursements, up to a maximum of £43 per day, including incidental subsistence costs.

This scheme was adopted by Havant Borough Council, after considering recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel on 17 February 2016 and amended by the Council on 13 April 2016.

Under current legislation a new scheme must be adopted every four years, following a review from an Independent Remuneration Panel. The next scheme must be in place by April 2020.”