MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES SCHEME 2008/09

1. The Committee has considered and accepted the recommendation of the County Council's Independent Remuneration Panel that Members' allowances in 2008/09 should increase in line with the national annual pay award for local government staff.

2. The minutes of the meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel held on 22 November 2007 can be found at:

http://www.hants.gov.uk/decisions/decisions-index/index-docs-6779.html

3. The Committee has previously reported the intention of the Panel to carry out a full review of all Members allowances during 2008 and it was in the context of that and the current review of the River Hamble's democratic structure that the Committee deferred consideration of the Panel's proposal that the Chairman of the Harbour Board should receive a special responsibility allowance. The Committee was also unable to accede to the Panel's request for research support for the review beyond that currently provided by the County Council.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Members' basic, special responsibility and child care and independent carers' allowances for 2008/09 be increased in accordance with the national pay award for local government staff with effect from 1 April 2008.