Archived decisions
Annex 1
AT A MEETING of the INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority held at The Castle, Winchester on 25 November 2009.
PRESENT:
F.H.M. Quick; G.Wilkinson
The following officers were in attendance:
K Gardner - Clerk to the Authority
K. Ridout - Business Advice and Members' Support
P. Carey-Kent - for Treasurer to Authority
Also, it was noted that Mrs Z Atkins (Portsmouth City Council IRP) had recently resigned from the Panel and therefore was not present.
1 APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
It was AGREED that F.H.M. Quick should chair the meeting.
2 REVIEW OF THE EXISTING HFRA MEMBERS' ALLOWANCES SCHEME
The Panel had before them background information consisting of the current allowance scheme, the terms of reference for each of the Committees, a schedule of comparable fire and rescue authorities' allowances and copies of current Hampshire County and Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils' Members' Allowances Schemes.
The Panel was advised that there had been no written or personal representations received from Members other than a communication by the Chairman of the Authority that he was minded to recommend a zero percentage increase in allowances for 2010/11.
In considering the HFRA Members' Allowances Scheme, recognising the present economic climate and budgetary constraints, the Panel recommended that Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances be frozen at the existing rates for 2010/11.
In addition, given the last significant review of the Scheme was in 2005 and the changes in the Authority's membership during 2009, the Panel recommended a full appraisal of the Scheme should be undertaken during 2010/11 with the implementation of agreed outcomes to be applied in 2011/12.
The Panel considered the request made by the Authority at its meeting on 10 December 2008, to consider applying, for the next three years, an annual increase which reflects the annual pay award to non-uniformed officers. However, in view of its recommendation that allowances should be frozen for 2010/11, it did not feel it appropriate to introduce such an indexed rise for three years.
The Panel was aware that the majority of district and borough councils in Hampshire paid the HM Revenue and Customs' approved mileage rates of 40p for the first 10,000 miles and 25p thereafter. The Panel noted that Kent and Medway Fire Authority also paid the HMRC rates and that the Employment in Hampshire County Council Committee had agreed at its meeting on 3 November 2009 that, in principle, the HMRC rates should apply to staff. The EHCC Committee also agreed, in principle, that implementation of any such changes should be made in the new financial year, subject to further negotiations with the trade unions. The Panel recommended that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority should adopt the HMRC rates from 1 April 2010.
The Panel endorsed the Authority's proposal that a new Special Responsibility Allowance of £2,000 per annum be paid in relation to the Authority's Board Director on the South-East Fire and Rescue Control Centre Limited. It was noted that no additional net payment would be made under this allowance as the Board Director was already in receipt of a higher Special Responsibility Allowance.
RESOLVED:
That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Authority:
(a) That Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances be frozen at the existing rates for 2010/11.
(b) That a full appraisal of the Members' Allowances Scheme be undertaken during 2010/11 with the implementation of agreed outcomes to be applied in 2011/12.
(c) That mileage be reduced from 53.8p per mile to the HMRC rate of 40p per mile for the first 10,000miles and 25p per mile thereafter from 1 April 2010.
(d) That the Scheme be amended to incorporate a new Special Responsibility Allowance of £2,000 per annum to be paid in relation to the Authority's Board Director on the South-East Fire and Rescue Control Centre Limited.
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