We have received recommendations from an independent remuneration panel in respect of the allowances scheme for the new, unitary North Yorkshire Council for 2023/24. The rates for ongoing special responsibility allowances reflect the proposal to apply a 4% increase compared to the 2022/23 rates. The effect of the panel's recommendations are as follows:
(a) A basic allowance for all members of the council of £15,550.
(b) Special responsibility allowances to be paid to certain Members of the Council as follows:
- chair of the council - £12,142
- vice chair of the council - £4,027
- leader of the council - £39,654
- deputy leader of the council - £21,165
- executive members - £19,554
- chair of health overview and scrutiny committee - £11,052
- chairs of other overview and scrutiny committees, area constituency committees, the appeals committee and the pension fund committee - £5,526
- chair of the strategic planning committee - £6,971
- chair of the audit committee - £4,769
- chair of the standards and governance committee - £4,421
- chair of the general licensing and registration committee - £3,931
- chairs of the area constituency planning committees - £3,815
- chair of the statutory licensing committee - £3,500
- vice-chair of the strategic planning committee - £2,141
- vice-chairs of the overview and scrutiny committees, the statutory licensing committee and the general licensing and registration committee and champions for young people, older people and climate change - £1,842
- vice-chairs of the area constituency planning committees - £1,456
- vice-chair of the appeals committee - £921
- chairs of the statutory licensing sub-committees and general licensing and registration sub-committees - £250 per meeting
- leaders of political groups: (2nd eligible party in group membership) - £6,821, (3rd eligible group in party membership) - £3,527
- secretaries of political groups: (1st party in group membership) - £2,763, (2nd eligible party in group membership) - £1,842, (3rd eligible party in group membership) - £921
(c) Special responsibility allowance to be paid to the chair of the police, fire and crime panel - £9,210. Vice chairs of the police, fire and crime panel – £3,684. Members and community members of the police, fire and crime panel - £1,842.
(d) Independent persons for standards - £921. Independent chairman of the pension board - £3,120.
(e) That, if there are any increases in the travel and subsistence rates payable to staff, a similar increase should be made to the rates in the members’ allowances scheme to come into effect at the same time.
(f) That in all other respects, the details of the current members’ allowances scheme be adopted as the North Yorkshire Council members’ allowances scheme.