Tributes will be paid to Cllr Derek Giles, former chair of Cambridgeshire County Council, by Members at the Full Council meeting on December 13, as a new honours board is unveiled at the council’s headquarters.
Cllr Giles who died in November, will be remembered by a minute’s silence and a collection by councillors in aid of Sarcoma UK. Members of his family, including his wife Sandie, will be present as an honours board detailing all Cambridgeshire Chairs, Vice-Chairs and Honorary Aldermen/women is unveiled. Other former Chairs will be on hand for this short ceremony before Full Council begins at 10.30am
Among business to be discussed at the Full Council meeting is a ‘mini review’ of Cambridgeshire County Council Members’ allowances by an independent panel.
This review, promised at the start of the current administration in July 2021, has made recommendation about special responsibility payments for policy and service committee chairs and vice chairs – which had been delayed for eighteen months while the new responsibilities bedded in.
The independent body has recommended that chairs should receive an annual allowance of £19,355 - representing 60% of the Council Leader’s allowance, to reflect the size, complexity and time commitment of their roles, and vice chairs to receive an allowance of £9,678, representing 30%.
The independent panel has proposed no change to its earlier recommendation to withdraw special responsibility allowances from deputy leaders of opposition groups.
It has also recommended indexing Member allowances to the median level of the council’s professional and managerial staff salary band – which will mean a 3.8% increase for 2023/4.
“It is always uncomfortable that Councillors have to vote through their own allowances, and I am grateful to the Independent Panel for the work they have done in bringing forward this report,” said Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. “They consider a range of issues including council finances, but also benchmarking against other councils, and how to attract and keep people in this vital role who properly reflect the Cambridgeshire population and can offer a range of different voices to decision making. While I do not agree with all the conclusions, I think it is important that we respect their role in this process, so I hope the council will support the recommendations.”.
You can see the full agenda for next week’s Full Council meeting online and follow the meeting on the Council’s live stream from 10.30 on Tuesday, December 13.
