Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 13

7 December 2005

Scheme of Allowances for Members of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Report of the Clerk

Contact: Mr. K. Ridout on 01962 847356.

1. Introduction

1.1. At its meeting on 10 December 2003 the Authority approved a scheme of allowances for Members of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority backdated to 1 May 2003. The Authority supported the Independent Remuneration Panel proposal that whatever scheme was approved, it should operate until 2005, subject to inflation increases, at which time a full review of all special responsibility and other allowances be undertaken by the Panel.

2. HFRA - Independent Remuneration Panel

2.1. The HFRA Independent Remuneration Panel met on 17 November 2005 and considered as background information the Members' Allowances and Expenses Guidance Note of 2005/06 setting out, amongst other things, the current basic allowance and special responsibility allowances. Also, they had before them the terms of reference of each HFRA Committee and a schedule showing other comparable combined fire authority member's allowances. All HFRA Members were notified about the Panel meeting on
17 November 2005 and invited, if they so wished, to make either any written or personal representations at that time. One written submission was made by Councillor M.F. Cartwright and this was considered by the Panel.

2.2. The notes of the Independent Remuneration Panel meeting of 17 November 2005, together with the Members' Allowances and Expenses Guidance Note for 2005/06 and a schedule showing other combined fire authority allowances are shown as Annexures 1, 2, and 3 respectively to this report. I set out below a table showing the existing HFRA basic allowance and special responsibility allowances (A) and those now being recommended (B) to the Authority to take effect from 1 April, 2006, taking into account the level of inflationary increases suggested by the Panel.

a) Basic Allowance £ £
(A) (B)
Existing HFRA Independent
Allowances Remuneration
per annum Panel is
recommending
per annum (from
1.4.06)

Basic Allowance 2,645 2,715


b) Special Responsibility Allowances

Only one special responsibility allowance is payable to any Member under the scheme, (the allowances in brackets will not be paid whilst the current post holder receives a higher special responsibility allowance in respect of another post).

Chairman of Authority 10,900 13,350
(increase to align with
the average level paid to
Chairman of other
comparable Authorities)

Vice-Chairmen of the Authority (x2) - (1590) ) (1632) )
Chairman of Committees 1590 ) 1632 )

Finance and General Purposes - 6565 6741
Governance - 3085 3,261 (an
increase so in
line with Standards)
Human Resources - 5820 6741 (an
increase so in line with F & GP)
Performance Review - 3705 3804
Standards - 3176 3261

Vice-Chairman of Committees
Finance and General Purposes - (1590) (1632)
Governance - (792) (813)
Human Resources - 1485 1632 (an
increase so in
line with F & GP)
Performance Review - 955 981
Standards - 792 813

Independent Members (x2) serving on Standards Committee -
845 each 615 each (a
decrease to reflect
fewer meetings,
comparison with
other Authorities
allowances and
the level of
payment made by the County Council)

Minority Spokespersons on HFRA
Liberal Democrat Party - 5450 5598
Labour Party - 2735 2808
Member for Communication Liaison - 955 981


Financial recognition for Members involved in Disciplinary/Grievance Hearings -
125 per day 125 per day
(should continue to
equate with daily
rate paid by LGA
in such cases)


c) Effective Date for Implementation

The above new rates shall apply from 1 April 2006 and on 1 April in subsequent years, to correspond to the retail price index used by Central Government to update State Benefits and pensions and not, as at present, in line with yearly non-uniformed Fire Service pay awards.


d) Other HFRA Members' Expenses

No other changes be made to the travel and other Members' Expenses as set out in the HFRA Members' Allowances and Expenses Guidance Note 2005/06.

3. European Convention on Human Rights and Human Rights Act 1998

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

RECOMMENDATION:

That the revised scheme of allowances for Members of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority be as recommended by the HFRA Independent Remuneration Panel meeting on
17 November, 2005 and shall take effect from 1 April 2006.

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:

Published works.

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

4gR8901005