Announcements

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES SCHEME
The Local Authorities’ (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 place certain duties on local authorities in connection with publicising the recommendations made by their Independent Remuneration Panel. (IRP). The recommendations of the Panel relate to the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2012/13. They are as follows:
(a) That Basic Allowances and SRAs (Special Responsibility Allowance) be frozen at existing rates from 1 April 2012.
(b) That no change be made to current Member mileage rates which are aligned to HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Custom’s) approved levels.
(c) That no SRA be granted to the Leader of the Community and Green Minority Group on the County Council and that a SRA should only be paid to the Leader of a Minority Group when it comprised of 6 or more Members, and then according to the current SRA formula for the Main Opposition Group.
(d) That no change be made to the existing SRAs paid to Chairmen of the Pension Fund Panel and Audit Committee, but that the SRA of the Chairman of the Audit Committee be reviewed in future years.
(e) That the Panel continue their review of the SRAs paid to Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of Committees.
(f ) That travel allowances for attendance at political group meetings before full Council Meetings authorised by the relevant political group leaders should be payable, but that the Chief Executive should authorise any additional political group meetings qualifying for payment of travel allowances before travel expenses could be claimed.
The IRP recommendations form part of the report to the Employment in Hampshire County Council Committee held on 9 November 2011. They are available on Hantsnet at http://www3.hants.gov.uk/councilmeetings/meetingsummary.htm?date_ID=698 or for public inspection during normal working hours, between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm at BAMS Office (Room 102), Elizabeth II Court South, The Castle, Winchester, SO23 8UJ; telephone 01962 845751 or email sue.butler@hants.gov.uk
ANDREW SMITH OBE, MA, DPA, MBA, Chief Executive