Recommendation to full Council (5 December 2023):
That the Council:
(1) defers consideration of the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the review of councillors’ allowances for a period of 12 months;
(2) retains the current scheme of allowances without indexation, which effectively freezes councillors’ allowances at their current level for the 2024-25 financial year; and
(3) thanks the Independent Remuneration Panel for their work.
Reason:
In view of the current situation with regard to the Council’s current financial position and the Council’s determination to resolve those difficulties, now was not the right time to be increasing councillors’ allowances.