Issue - meetings
Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel
Meeting: 20/05/2026 - Council (Item 112)
112 Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel 
PDF 71 KB
Purpose
To consider recommendations made to Council by the Independent Remuneration Panel.
Recommendations
That the Council considers the recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel, which are to;
1. Agree to introduce a 0.25x Special Responsibility Allowance for the Vice-Chair of the Development Management Sub-Committee;
2. Note that the Special Responsibility Allowances for the Chairs of Strategic Planning Committee and Development Management Sub-Committee will be reviewed in the autumn as part of the full review of allowances;
3. Note that the amount paid as the Vice-Chair’s Special Responsibility Allowances will be reviewed in the autumn as part of the full review of allowances, in respect to the amount.
4. Note that following changes at national level, from the 11 May 2026, Councillors have been able to opt into the Local Government Pensions Scheme, and that pensions may be payable on a member’s basic and/or special responsibility allowance. The members allowances scheme will be updated accordingly.
Additional documents:
- Annex A- Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel, item 112
PDF 470 KB
- Webcast for Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel
Minutes:
Council considered the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel, which had reviewed the implications of the revised planning committee structure on Members’ Special Responsibility Allowances. The Panel concluded that the impact of the new arrangements should be reviewed after they had been in operation for a period and once proposed national planning reforms were clearer. In the interim, it recommended that the Vice-Chair of the Development Management Sub-Committee receive a Special Responsibility Allowance equivalent to 0.25 of the basic allowance, reflecting the increased responsibilities associated with the new committee structure. The Panel also noted that Members’ allowances were now pensionable, and that members could opt into this.
Voting record - For 44, Against 0, Abstentions 1,
Council resolved to:
1. Agree to introduce a 0.25x Special Responsibility Allowance for the Vice-Chair of the Development Management Sub-Committee;
2. Note that the Special Responsibility Allowances for the Chairs of Strategic Planning Committee and Development Management Sub-Committee will be reviewed in the autumn as part of the full review of allowances;
3. Note that the amount paid as the Vice-Chair’s Special Responsibility Allowances will be reviewed in the autumn as part of the full review of allowances, in respect to the amount.
4. Note that following changes at national level, from the 11 May 2026, Councillors have been able to opt into the Local Government Pensions Scheme, and that pensions may be payable on a member’s basic and/or special responsibility allowance. The members allowances scheme will be updated accordingly.