Members Allowances

Scheme for the Payment of Members' Allowances 2017/18

The Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred by the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (SI No. 2003: 1021) [‘the Regulations’] hereby makes the following scheme.

  1. This scheme shall have effect from 1 April 2022.
  2. In this scheme:
    • “Member” means a Member of the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority
    • “the Authority” means the Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority
    • “year” means the 12 months ending with 31 March
    • “pro rata” means in proportion to the number of days during the effective period of this scheme to the total number of days in the year
    • “independent person” means a person appointed in accordance with the Localism Act 2011 and subsequent regulations
    • “NJC” means the National Joint Council
  3. Basic Allowances
    1. The basic allowance payable to each Member shall be in accordance with the scales adopted by the Authority, from time to time, outlined in Schedule 2 per year, pro rata, payable by monthly instalments.
    2. In order to quality for the basic allowance Members are expected to undertake the following duties:
    • Attend meetings of the full Fire Authority;
    • Sit on at least one Committee or Panel of the Authority;
    • Read papers and prepare for Authority-related meetings; and 
    • Attend at least one training event per year.
  4. Special Responsibility Allowances
    1. The Members holding the offices specified in Schedule 2 shall receive the Special Responsibility Allowances shown there per year.
    2. No Member shall receive more than one special responsibility allowance from the Authority.
    3. Special responsibility allowances will be payable, pro rata, by monthly instalments.
  5. Travel and Subsistence Allowances
    1. Payment of travel and subsistence allowances shall be made in respect of the approved duties undertaken by a Member, as set out in Schedule 1 to this scheme, as amended from time to time by the Authority.
    2. The amounts payable to each Member in respect of travel allowances and subsistence allowances shall be in accordance with the scales adopted by the Authority, from time to time, outlined in Schedule 2.
  6. Dependants' / Carers' Allowance
    1. In accordance with the Regulations, the scheme does not provide for this allowance.
  7. Independent Persons
    1. Travel and subsistence allowances shall be payable to independent persons in accordance with the scales adopted by the Authority, from time to time, outlined in Schedule 2.
  8. Renunciation
    1. A Member may, by notice given to the Head of Finance to the Authority, elect to forego any part of his or her entitlement to an allowance under this scheme.
    2. Any such notice shall specify the effective date of renunciation and, once given, the notice may not be revoked otherwise than with effect from 1 April in any year.
  9. Time Limit for Claims
    1. Members should submit completed claim forms for travel and subsistence for each calendar month, to the Head of Human Resources and Administration at Brigade Headquarters by the 7th of the following month to ensure payment at the end of the month.
    2. Claims must be submitted within three months of the end of the relevant month. The Head of Finance may, having consulted the Chair of the Authority, accept a late claim for good cause and make the related payments.
  10. Dual Claims
    1. Where a Member of the Authority is also able to claim allowances as a Member of another authority, that Member may not receive any allowance from more than one authority in respect of the same duties, travel or subsistence.
  11. Right to Withdraw Allowances or Require Repayment
    1. If a Member ceases to be a Member of the Authority, or is in any other way not entitled to receive an allowance for any particular period, the Authority reserves the right to require that such part of the allowance as relates to any such period be repaid to it.
  12. Part-Year Entitlement
    1. The provisions of this paragraph shall have effect to regulate the entitlements of a Member to basic and special responsibility where, in the course of a year:
      1. this scheme is amended; or
      2. that person becomes or ceases to be a Member; or
      3. that Member accepts or relinquishes a special responsibility for which a special responsibility allowance is payable.
    2. In relation to basic and special responsibility allowances:
      1. if an amendment to this scheme changes the amount to which a Member is entitled; or
      2. where the term of office of a Member begins or ends otherwise than at the beginning or end of a year; or
      3. where the special responsibilities of a Member do not subsist throughout the year; or
      4. where the scheme is amended as referred to in (a) above and the term of office and/or the special responsibilities of the Member do not subsist throughout any part of the periods within the year distinguished by the payment of different amounts for these allowances, then the entitlement to the allowances shall be calculated by reference to the proportion the number of days in each such period bears to the number of days in that year.
  13. Administration
    1. The Head of Finance to the Authority shall maintain, on behalf of the Authority, a record of all payments made under this scheme which shall specify in relation to each payment the name of the recipient and the amount and nature of the payment.
    2. This record shall be available at all reasonable times for inspection by local government electors in Shropshire and Borough of Telford & Wrekin at no charge. Copies will be provided on request on payment of a reasonable fee decided by the Head of Finance.
  14. Review of Allowances
    1. The basic and special responsibility allowances payable under this scheme may be reviewed annually from 1 April each year based on the NJC for Local Government Services annual pay reviews, and any percentage increase applied automatically from that date.
    2. Likewise the travel and subsistence allowances payable under this scheme may be reviewed annually from 1 April each year based on the NJC for Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services annual reviews or other local review and any increase applied automatically from that date.
  15. Revision or Revocation of the Scheme
    1. This scheme may only be amended or revoked by the Authority in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Regulations.