Members’ allowances and expenses

Report: 6
Date: 15 December 2003
By: Clerk

Summary

This report sets out the payments made to members of the Authority in respect of allowances and expenses in the financial year 2002/03. It also requests a decision on two issues in relation to the scheme of members’ expenses.

A. Recommendation

That

1. the report on payments made to members in 2002/03 be noted; and
2. the Committee decides, for recommendation to the full Authority, (a) whether or not to include the payment of the congestion charge (and parking charges) in the Scheme for the Payment of Members’ Expenses; and (b) to introduce a three month deadline for the presentation of claims (subject to the Clerk being able to exercise discretion in exceptional circumstances)

B. Supporting information

Allowances and expenses 2002/03

1. As a matter of good practice and ethical governance, the MPA reports annually on the allowances and expenses it has paid to its members in the preceding financial year.

2. Attached as Appendix 1 is a summary of payments made to members in the financial year 2002/03. This was also reported to the Standards Committee on 21 November.

3. Payments are made in accordance with the Authority’s schemes for members’ allowances and expenses, which can be viewed on the Authority’s website. Expenses are the refund of reasonable costs actually incurred by members in the course of their Authority business. Allowances are only paid to Magistrate and Independent members. GLA members are not able to claim allowances as they are remunerated by the Greater London Authority.

Members’ expenses scheme

4. There are two issues on which a decision is sought from the committee:

5. The current expenses scheme does not provide for members to reclaim the cost of the congestion charge. A request has been received from a member for this to be reimbursed and the committee are asked to decide whether this should be provided for in the Scheme. Relevant factors for the committee to consider are:

• The Greater London Authority specifically do not meet the cost of the congestion charge for members, presumably in line with the GLA’s commitment to public transport
• The MPS only pay the congestion charge for a limited number of staff working shifts when there is limited public transport. MPA staff cannot reclaim the cost of the congestion charge
• The MPA Members’ Expenses Scheme does include a mileage allowance for car use, although the emphasis is on the use of public transport
• At present, one member claims parking charges on occasions. The committee’s decision on whether or not to meet the cost of the congestion charge should also apply to parking charges.
• If the Committee decides to meet the cost of the congestion charge, it is recommended that it is on the basis of an undertaking from the member on each occasion that the only purpose for bringing their car into central London was MPA business and that public transport was not a reasonable option

6. At present the Members’ Expenses Scheme does not place a deadline on the making of claims. Some claims are made some months after the event. This can cause problems in forecasting expenditure during the year. More importantly, it can make validation of the claim difficult and indeed can make it difficult for a member to remember what meetings etc they have attended for which they need to claim expenses. It is recommended that a statement be included in the Scheme of Expenses to the effect that no claims will be accepted three months or more after the event, but that in exceptional and individual circumstances, the Clerk may waive this requirement.

C. Equality and diversity implications

The payment of a realistic level of allowances, in recognition of the significant time commitment that members have to make to the Authority, can help in the recruitment of an MPA membership which is broadly representative of London’s communities.

D. Financial implications

Any additional costs must be contained within the budget.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, MPA.

For more information contact:

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

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