Issue - meetings

The Chairman presented the report and explained that many councillors relied on the allowance to compensate for their loss of earnings for the time needed to undertake their council duties. Many people, particularly those self-employed, would not be able to undertake the work without the allowance. The rates had been set by the Independent Remuneration Panel whose role was critical.

It was noted that the Monitoring Officer had granted on 12 January 2022 all councillors a four-year dispensation under Section 33 (2) of the Localism Act 2011 to take part and vote in respect of the Members’ Allowance Scheme and associated matters.

The recommendation was duly seconded and a vote was taken, the result of which was:

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations in the sixteenth report of the Independent Remuneration Panel be approved and that the Panel be thanked for its work in reviewing the Isle of Wight Council Members’ Allowance Scheme.

That the Isle of Wight Council Members’ Allowance Scheme as set out in Appendix 1 of the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report be approved to take effect on and from 1 April 2022, with the basic allowance for 2022/2023 being the amount for 2021/2022 of £8, 231.38 (plus any indexation amount for 2021/2022) and plus any annual indexation amount for 2022/2023 under the terms of the Scheme.

That, before implementation of any adjustment to the 2022/2023 basic allowance amount and any adjustments for subsequent years up to and including 2025/2026, the Independent Remuneration Panel be consulted.