Issue - meetings

The Head of Democratic Services presented a report, which considered adopting the recommendations of the Democratic Services Committee in relation to its review of the “Councillors’ Broadband and Telephone, ICT and Mobile Phone Allowances - May 2017 & Beyond” Policy.

 

Resolved that:

 

1)              The Policy be renamed the “Councillors Information, Communication & Technology (ICT) Allowances - May 2017 & Beyond Policy” or “Councillors ICT Allowances - May 2017 & Beyond Policy” for short;

 

2)              The following note be added to Paragraph 5.3 of the Policy:

 

“1)      The Councillors’ ICT Allowance over a 5 year period is £1,808 in total.  This amount may be spent at any time during the 5 year term provided the claims are made using the Councillors / Co-opted Members ICT Allowance Claim Form and with relevant receipts.

 

2)              Any spend exceeding £200 in the final year of the Term of Office must be approved in advance by the Head of Democratic Services in conjunction with the Chief Transformation Officer.  They may look at temporary solutions such as providing Authority owned ICT devices.”

 

3)              The following condition be added to Paragraph 6.1 of the Policy:

 

“c)      Councillors in receipt of the Telephone element of the Councillors’ Broadband and Telephone Allowance must allow for their telephone number to be published on the Authority’s website and promoted as necessary save in exceptional circumstances”.

 

4)              Paragraph 6.4 of the Policy be redrafted so as to allow each Councillor within the same household to receive the Data Allowance Payment but that the household be limited to one Broadband Allowance;

 

5)              The “Broadband and Telephone Allowance” be renamed the “Data and Telephone Allowance”;

 

6)              Paragraph 7.1 of the Policy be amended as follows with an additional second condition also being added:

 

“7.1    The Authority currently pays a monthly Councillors’ Mobile Phone Allowance to qualifying Councillors in order to supplement their mobile phone bills due to their increased use for Council business providing:

 

a)       Councillors produce proof on an annual basis of their Mobile Phone contract to the Cabinet Office / Democratic Services Team.

 

b)       Councillors in receipt of the Councillors’ Mobile Phone Allowance must allow for their mobile telephone number to be published on the Authority’s website and promoted as necessary save in exceptional circumstances”.

 

7)              Paragraph 7.5 of the Policy be deleted and the section renumbered accordingly;

 

8)              The following note be added to Paragraph 9.4 of the Policy:

 

“Note:

1)              The Co-opted Members ICT Allowance over a 4 and 6 year period is £361.60 and £441.60 in total respectively.  This amount may be spent at any time during the 4-6 year term provided the claims are made using the Councillors / Co-opted Members ICT Allowance Claim Form and with relevant receipts;

 

2)              Any spend exceeding £40 in the final year of the Term of Office must be approved in advance by the Head of Democratic Services in conjunction with the Chief Transformation Officer.  They may look at temporary solutions such as providing Authority owned ICT devices.”

 

9)              A Paragraph 9.7 be added to the Policy as follows:

 

“9.7    Co-opted Members in receipt of the Telephone element of the Co-opted Member Broadband and Telephone Allowance must allow for their telephone number to be published on the Authority’s website and promoted as necessary save in exceptional circumstances”.