Agenda item

The report of the Independent Person appointed to carry out a review of the Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme was introduced by the said Independent Person and report author, Dr Declan Hall.  The report included feedback from the interviews he carried out with Members along with the results of surveys completed by Members.

Dr Hall confirmed that due to a lack of legal powers of the Authority no recommendation could be made regarding an allowance for the care of Members’ dependents while undertaking duties for the Authority.

Members thanked Dr Hall for the detailed report and noted that the suggested increase to the allowance was not in line with inflation.  Dr Hall explained that the rate of inflation at the time of the report was too high to be a considered factor when setting the increase. 

The Chair of the Authority was asked if National Parks England were discussing the possibility of introducing a dependent carers allowance for National Park Authority Members and also consideration for allowing tax allowance on mileage claims to assist Members who had to travel long distances to attend meeting.  The Chair confirmed that a request for an amendment to secondary legislation was being put to Defra as it may assist in attracting a more diverse range of Members to the Authority moving forwards.

A motion to approve the recommendations as set out in the report, and with support for the work by National Parks England in approaching Defra regarding the ability to introduce a carers allowance and allow tax allowance on mileage claims, was moved and seconded, put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:     

1.    To note the findings of the Independent Review of Members Allowances produced by Dr Declan Hall and set out in Appendix 1.

2.    To accept the following recommendations as set out in the Independent Review Report at Appendix 1:

a)    To increase the Basic Allowance paid to all Members to £2,568 subject to any applicable indexation for 2022/23.

b)    To continue paying an additional Special Responsibility Allowance to the following six positions of responsibility at the rates indicated:

                       i.        Chair of the Authority at a multiple of 2.6 times the recommended Basic Allowance

                      ii.        Deputy Chair of the Authority at 50% of the allowance paid to the Chair of the Authority

                    iii.        Chair of Planning Committee at 50% of the allowance paid to the Chair of the Authority

                    iv.        Vice Chair of Planning Committee at 60% of the allowance paid to the Chair of Planning Committee

                      v.        Chair of Programmes and Resources Committee at 40% of the allowance paid to the Chair of the Authority

                    vi.        Vice Chair of Programmes and Resources Committee at 50% of the allowance paid to the Chair of Programmes and Resources Committee.

c)    To confirm that no additional Special Responsibility Allowance is paid to:

                      i.        All Members of Planning Committee

                    ii.        Member Champions.

d)    To continue the allowance paid to Co-optees at 25% of the Basic Allowance.

e)    To continue the allowance paid to the Independent Persons at 50% of the Basic Allowance.

f)     To maintain the existing travel rates so that they continue to match the rates paid to employees, subject to the inclusion of a statement in the Members Allowances Scheme to state that claims made for travel by hybrid/electric vehicles are also payable at HMRC rates, currently 45p per mile.

g)    To maintain the existing subsistence rates so that they continue to match the rates paid to employees.

h)    To note that the Authority does not have the statutory power to set or pay an allowance to contribute to the cost of care for Members’ Dependents while they are engaged on Authority business and also that the Authority does not have the power to vary the amount of Basic Allowance paid to Members based on attendance at Meetings.

i)     To index the approved payments set out in the Authority’s Members’ Allowances Scheme as follows:

              i.        Basic Allowance, Special Responsibility Allowances, Co-optees’ Allowance and Independent Persons annual remuneration are indexed to the annual percentage salary increase for local government employees (at spinal column 43 or the equivalent level if the spinal column points are revised), to be applied from the same year that applies to employees.

            ii.        Travel Allowances including Mileage Rates, and Subsistence Allowances indexed to the same rate that is applicable to employees, except the Passenger Supplement Mileage rate.

j)     To apply these indices for four years from date of the first application of the relevant indices to the Basic Allowances and Special Responsibility Allowances on 1st April 2023 to the end of the financial year 2027.

3.    To confirm that any changes to the Scheme will be effective from 1st April 2023 and not backdated.