Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations proposing an update to the Council’s provision for councillors with dependants through revisions to the relevant sections in Part 6, Members’ Allowance Scheme, of the Brent Constitution.

Council RESOLVED to approve, with effect from the start of the current financial year, the changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme proposed in Appendix 1 of the report which update and clarify the Council’s support for councillors with caring responsibilities in relation to dependants’ carers’ allowance.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, to introduce a report from the Director of Legal, HR, Audit & Investigations detailing a proposed updated to the Council’s provision for councillors with dependants within Brent’s Members Allowance Scheme (Part 6 – Constitution).  In introducing the report the Leader highlighted the Council’s commitment to supporting councillors with caring responsibilities, with the proposed update designed to further enhance this approach by extending the ability to claim dependants’ carers’ allowance to cover “reasonable travel time to and from meetings up to the maximum of an hour each way”.  In commending the change to Council the Leader advised that, subject to approval, the intention would be to apply the change retrospectively from the start of the 2022-23 financial year.

As no members indicated they wished to speak and Councillor Muhammed Butt had confirmed he did not need to exercise his right of reply the Mayor then put the recommendations in the report to the vote and they were unanimously declared CARRIED.

Council therefore RESOLVED to approve, with effect from the start of the current financial year, the changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme proposed in Appendix 1 of the report which update and clarify the Council’s support for councillors with caring responsibilities in relation to dependants’ carers’ allowance.