Ipswich Borough Council has its own Independent Remuneration Panel that makes recommendations to the Council on allowances to be paid to elected members in accordance with legal requirements under the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.
The Panel is made up of three local people who are appointed to ensure that the setting of members' allowances is open to robust, independent and local scrutiny and is accountable and transparent to local people.
The Panel produces a report that makes recommendations for the Council to consider in regard to:
The Council's obligation is to have regard to the Panel's recommendations. Whilst the Council does not have a duty to follow the recommendations it must have good, justifiable reasons for departing from them.
The Panel met (virtually) on several occasions during 2020 and produced a report which was considered at Council on 16 September 2020. Council adopted some of the panel’s recommendations but rejected the increases to allowances proposed by the panel. The decision of full Council and the Panel’s report can be viewed as part of the papers for the meeting here.
If you have any queries, or would like any further information, please contact committee.services@ipswich.gov.uk