An independent panel has reviewed Cambridgeshire County Council’s scheme of Members allowances – as is required every four years – and will recommend a number of changes to the scheme at next week’s Full Council meeting (July 15).
The panel made up of local residents, business people and members of the judiciary considered the amount of basic allowance paid to every councillor – last reviewed in 2021 – and the amount paid in addition for any ‘special responsibilities’.
They have based their recommendations on the view promoted by the independent Councillors Commission in 2007 which recognises that being an elected councillor does involve an amount of unpaid service, but that people’s financial situation shouldn’t prevent them from standing.
Recommendations include that the basic allowance paid to all members of Cambridgeshire County Council should be £13,214 per annum.
In line with the view promoted by the independent Councillors Commission, the Panel wished to ensure the level of basic allowance would not constitute a barrier to candidates from all sections of the community standing, or re-standing, for election as councillors. It was of the view that the 2017 and 2021 reviews had begun to make recommendations to ensure that the current basic was in accordance with the principle of fair remuneration and the 2025 review has further consolidated this approach.
If also recommends that no more than half the council – 30 Members – should be eligible for additional ‘special responsibility allowances’ (SRAs) for bearing significant additional responsibilities at any one time.
In addition, it recommends that no Member should receive more than one SRA even if they take on more than one of the identified offices the panel considered eligible for SRAs which are:
- Leader of the Council
- Deputy Leader of the Council
- Leader of the Main Opposition
- Leader of the Minor Opposition (Group to have at least 4 Councillors)
- Policy and Service Committee Chairs x 6
- Policy and Service Committee Vice Chairs x 6
- Audit and Accounts Committee Chair
- Proposed new Health Scrutiny Committee Chair
- Pension Fund Committee Chair
- Planning Committee Chair
- Combined Authority Board / Committee Member
- Adoption and Fostering Panel Member
Specific recommendation for amounts which should be paid in SRAs are also set out including
- the Leader of the Council to receive an SRA of 300% of the basic allowance – £39,642.
- the Deputy Leader receive an SRA of 65% of the Leader’s Allowance – £25,768.
- the Leader of the Main Opposition should receive an allowance of 33% of the Leader’s Allowance – £13,082.
- the Leader of the Minor Opposition party and the Combined Authority Board Member should each receive a Special Responsibility Allowance of 10% of the Leader’s Allowance – £3,964.
The Panel was asked to consider the allowances paid to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Council. It is proposed that the Chair of Council continues to receive an allowance of 33% of the Leader’s Allowance of £13,082 and the Vice Chair of Council receive the same allowance as the Leader of the Minor Opposition party and Combined Authority Board member.
In addition, it is recommended that the Policy and Service Committee Chairs continue to receive a Special Responsibility Allowance of 60% of the Leader’s Allowance £23,785.
The Panel is of the view that the role of the Chair of the Pension Fund Committee is a complex and time-consuming role with frequent meetings in London and a commitment to a high level of training and development. It therefore recommended that the Special Responsibility Allowance for the role be increased from 25% to 30% of the Leader’s Allowance, £11,893
The Panel was also asked to set an allowance for the Chair of the proposed new Health Scrutiny Committee. It is of the view that this role should also be at 25% of the Leader’s Allowance, £9,911.
The Panel recommended that the Council Member on the Fostering Panel should receive a Special Responsibility Allowance at the same rate as other panellists on the Fostering Panel which is currently £170 per day and £85 per half day meeting.
The amounts paid to councillors currently in basic allowances or for special responsibilities can be seen here (link to page). Copies of the panel’s report are also at Reception at New Shire Hall, Emery Crescent, Enterprise Campus, Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon PE28 4YE from 8.45a.m. to 5.00p.m. Monday to Thursday and 8.45a.m. to 4.30p.m. on Friday.
If agreed by Full Council the total cost of the proposed Members allowance scheme will be £1,140,677 which is £122,490 more than the £1,018,187.09 budgeted for at the start of this financial year.
You can read all of the papers due to be discussed at next week’s Full Council meeting on our website.
