Review of members remuneration and expenses

Report: 6
Date: 31 May 2001
By: Clerk

Summary

The Greater London Authority's Bureau of Leaders proposes to commission a consultancy to review and make recommendations to the respective organisations in the GLA 'family' on the remuneration packages for members of those five organisations. The Committee is asked to decide on MPA participation in this review.

A. Recommendation

That the Committee decides whether to participate in the review of Members' Allowances Schemes for the GLA family, on the basis outlined in paragraph five below.

B. Supporting information

1. In March, the full Authority agreed a revised ceiling for the payment of Members' Allowances in 2001/02. This was seen as an interim arrangement to address immediate issues pending a more thorough review of the Members' Allowances Scheme.

2. The GLA is now looking at carrying out a review of the remuneration packages (salaries or allowances and expenses) for the members of all five organisations within the GLA family (including, for the MPA, independent and magistrate members).

3. The rationale for this is the recognition that initial schemes for these bodies had to be developed without the benefit of direct experience of how the roles of those bodies and their members would develop. Within the GLA family there is a diversity of types of members, of roles and responsibilities, and of bases of remuneration. Whilst this may be a reflection of the different roles of and demands on members of these bodies, it is suggested that an overall review would be of value to establish areas of commonality or dissimilarity and to seek some uniformity of approach. The review would have regard to differentials within the GLA family as well as, for instance, relevant comparators with Parliament and other public sector bodies.

4. The Mayor has indicated his strong support for this review, as a foundational piece of work at a time when the nature and levels of responsibilities in all five organisations are becoming clearer. The GLA are keen to commission a review as soon as possible with a view to receiving recommendations in time for the GLA to make decisions in the autumn on its remuneration package. The MPA would retain the responsibility for considering the outcome of the review and making decisions on its own Members' Allowances Scheme.

5. Members may feel that any review of the GLA family must include the MPA. Equally, this is an opportunity to progress the review that the MPA itself has identified as being necessary. The Committee is asked, therefore, to indicate whether it agrees to MPA participation. There is no indication of cost yet, but the Committee is asked to make its decision on the basis that the Treasurer will assess the reasonableness of the estimated cost falling to the Authority and whether it can be contained within the budget. A further report will be made to committee if necessary. In addition, the Committee are asked to confirm the following implementation points:

• that the review will be carried out by way of a single contract (rather than five separate contracts) – the detail to be agreed between the Clerk and the GLA's Chief Executive;
• that MPA officers be delegated authority to participate in the assessment of tenders received for this consultancy;
• that a report be made to the appropriate committee or the full Authority seeking approval for the placing of a contract. It is anticipated that a decision will be required at some time during July so that the consultants can start at the end of July 2001. It is proposed that the Clerk be authorised to make a decision in consultation with the Chair of the Authority and the Treasurer should the decision timetable not accord with the MPA's committee timetable.

Financial implications

See paragraph five above.

D. Background papers

• Letter from GLA Acting Head of Assembly Support, 8 May 2001

E. Contact details

The author of this report is Simon Vile.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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