Agenda item

(1)      The Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendation to increase the Mayoral allowance from £79,000 to £95,000 was approved.

(2)      The Mayoral allowance not be backdated to May 2021, as had been recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

(3)      An interim Deputy Mayoral allowance of £10,000 was agreed, and that the recommended allowance of £31,675 (less any basic and special responsibility allowances received) be referred back to the Independent Remuneration Panel for further explanation and clarification as to how the benchmarking of the role had been undertaken, particularly in respect of comparisons against the responsibilities of a Leader of a metropolitan local authority.

(4)      The Deputy Mayor’s interim allowance be backdated to May 2021.

(5)      The Independent Remuneration Panel’s suggestion to recommend to constituent authorities that they set an additional responsibility allowance for Portfolio Leads in the sum of £9,500 be not pursued.

(6)      It was agreed that the Monitoring Officer should write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to request that the West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016 be further amended to allow the payment of allowances to all members and co-opted members of the WMCA.

(7)      It was agreed, pending the outcome of the transport governance review, to retain the allowances paid to the Chair and members of the Transport Delivery Committee.

(8)      It was agreed that the Chair of the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee should receive a Chair’s allowance of £9,500.

(9)      It was agreed that the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny Committee should receive a Chair’s allowance of £6,650 and that it be backdated to May 2021.

(10)    It was agreed all allowances should be index linked and increased annually as proposed.

(11)    It was agreed that the current scheme of travel and subsistence allowances should continue to apply to all members of the WMCA.

The board considered a report from the Interim Director of Law & Governance setting out the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel on a review the allowances paid to the Mayor and members of the WMCA. At its meeting in March, the board agreed to set up an Independent Remuneration Panel to consider:

·       the allowances that should be paid to the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor;

·       whether allowances should be recommended for Portfolio Leads;

·       the allowances paid to Transport Delivery Committee and whether allowances should be recommended to other members of the WMCA.

The panel carried out a thorough review of members allowances, including undertaking extensive interviews with key stakeholders and considering comparative data across the country. The board were required under the provisions of the West Midlands Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017 to determine the allowances payable to the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor “in accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel”.

Members expressed some concern regarding the means by which the recommendations of the panel had been reached, particularly in respect of the relationship between the allowance proposed for the Deputy Mayor and those paid by constituent member authorities for their Leader position. There was also significant concern that existing legislation prevented the membership of a pension scheme for members, which was proving to be a considerable deterrent for younger councillors pursuing more senior leadership positions. There was recognition though of the considerable personal time that members were required to give to their roles, along with the wider democratic concerns should otherwise well qualified individuals be unable to continue being councillors due to the unavoidable financial impact on their existing careers.

Resolved:

(1)      The Independent Remuneration Panel’s recommendation to increase the Mayoral allowance from £79,000 to £95,000 be approved.

(2)      The Mayoral allowance be not backdated to May 2021, as had been recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel.

(3)      An interim Deputy Mayoral allowance of £10,000 be agreed, and that the recommended allowance of £31,675 (less any basic and special responsibility allowances received) be referred back to the Independent Remuneration Panel for further explanation and clarification as to how the benchmarking of the role had been undertaken, particularly in respect of comparisons against the responsibilities of a Leader of a metropolitan local authority.

(4)      The Deputy Mayor’s interim allowance be backdated to May 2021.

(5)      The Independent Remuneration Panel’s suggestion to recommend to constituent authorities that they set an additional responsibility allowance for Portfolio Leads in the sum of £9,500 be not pursued.

(6)      It be agreed that the Monitoring Officer should write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to request that the West Midlands Combined Authority Order 2016 be further amended to allow the payment of allowances to all members and co-opted members of the WMCA.

(7)      It be agreed, pending the outcome of the transport governance review, to retain the allowances paid to the Chair and members of the Transport Delivery Committee.

(8)      It be agreed that the Chair of the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee should receive a Chair’s allowance of £9,500.

(9)      It be agreed that the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny Committee should receive a Chair’s allowance of £6,650 and that it be backdated to May 2021.

(10)    It be agreed that all allowances should be index linked and increased annually as proposed.

(11)    It be agreed that the current scheme of travel and subsistence allowances should continue to apply to all members of the WMCA.

[NB. Andy Street declared a personal interest in this item and left the meeting room during the discussion and voting on resolutions (1) and (2) above.

Councillor Bob Sleigh declared a personal interest in this item and left the meeting room during the discussion and voting on resolutions (3) and (4) above.

Mark Smith declared a personal interest in this item and left the meeting room during the discussion and voting on resolution (8) above.

Councillor Cathy Bayton declared a personal interest in this item and left the meeting room during the discussion and voting on resolution (9) above.

In accordance with paragraph 18.12 of the constitution, Councillor Ian Ward wished it to be recorded in the minutes that he abstained on the vote on resolutions (1) and (2) above.]