Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 19

8 December 2004

HFRA Members' Allowance Scheme - Special Responsibility Allowance Matters

Report of the Clerk

Contact: Kelvin Ridout : 01962 847356.

1. Introduction

1.1. At its meeting on 10 December 2003 the Fire Authority adopted a Scheme of Allowances for Members backdated to 1 May 2003. For 2004/05, these allowances have been increased by 2.75% backdated to 1 April 2004. The Authority is now asked to approve possible additions to the existing scheme as recommended by the HFRA - Independent Remuneration Panel and Standards Committee.

2. HFRA Independent Remuneration Panel

2.1. The Independent Remuneration Panel met on 10 September 2004 and considered the report of the Clerk on possible additions to the HFRA Members' Allowances Scheme. Namely, an appropriate special responsibility allowance for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the new Governance Committee and for the newly appointed Member to deal specifically with better communication and liaison between all Members of the Authority. Also, they looked at an earlier Standards Committee recommendation not to pay a special responsibility allowance to Fire Authority Members involved in Disciplinary/Grievance hearings. The notes of this Panel meeting and report of the Clerk are shown as Item 19(ii) and Item 19(iii) respectively.

3. HFRA - Standards Committee

3.1. The Standards Committee met on 28 September 2004. Members had before them the same information as before the Independent Remuneration Panel, together with the notes of that meeting. An extract of the relevant Minute of the Standards Committee is shown as Item 19 (i).

3.2. The Authority will see that the Standards Committee fully supported without debate the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the various new allowances and supported the start dates as shown below. The Committee's recommendations to the Authority are as follows:

(i) Special Responsibility Allowance for Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Governance Committee

In line with the Panel's view, the Committee agreed that the responsibility mirrored that of the Standards Committee and recommend the same allowances as for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Standards Committee namely,
£
Chairman of Governance Committee 3,085 per annum *
Vice-Chairman of Governance Committee 770 per annum *

* effective from 25 October, 2004


(ii) Special Responsibility Allowance for a Proposed New Member Appointment with Responsibility for Communication Liaison

In line with the Panel's view, the Committee recommend a special responsibility allowance for the position not exceeding £925 per annum effective from 15 September, 2004.


(iii) Not to pay a Special Responsibility Allowance to HFRA Members involved in Disciplinary/Grievance Hearings

The Committee noted that the Panel had endorsed its earlier views and those of the Fire Authority not to pay a special responsibility allowance to Members involved in Disciplinary/Grievance hearings.


(iv) Confirmation Or Otherwise that next year's allowances be uplifted in accordance with current arrangements

In line with the Panel's view, the Committee recommend that next year's allowances be uplifted in accordance with current arrangements by reference to the pay settlement for Fire and Rescue Service non-uniformed staff.

4. European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

4.1. The proposals within this report are considered compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

RECOMMENDATION:

(i) That the special responsibility allowance for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Governance Committee and for the newly appointed Member with responsibility for Communication liaison be as recommended by the HFRA Standards Committee on 28 September 2004, and be effective from the start dates as shown in the report and, that next year's allowances be uplifted in accordance with current arrangements by reference to the pay settlement for Fire and Rescue Service non-uniformed staff.

(ii) That the views of the Independent Remuneration Panel to endorse the earlier views of the Standards Committee and Fire Authority not to pay a special responsibility allowance to Members involved in Disciplinary/Grievance hearings be noted.

4gR511104

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1 Published works.

2 Documents which disclosure exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.