Scheme for the Payment of Members
This Scheme for the payment of Members’ Allowances is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 107 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 and was adopted by the Greater Manchester Police Authority (GMPA) on 7th December 2001. The Scheme will operate from 10 December 2001. The Scheme also incorporates amendments approved by the Police Authority at their meetings held on 13th September, 2002, 21st March and 18th July, 2003, 15th July 2005 and 19th February, 2008.
The adoption of the original scheme follows consideration of a Report on Members’ Allowances to the APA by an Independent Panel. The Allowances under this Scheme is based upon the conclusions contained in the APA report. The latest increases in allowances paid have come about as a result of an Independent Review of the Scheme carried out by the North West Employers’ Organisation.
The various annual allowances referred to in this Scheme will be paid monthly in equal instalments direct into the bank account of each Member. The payment of any allowance will cease immediately upon any person covered by the Scheme ceasing to be a Member of GMPA or ceasing to hold a position that attracts a Special Responsibility Allowance under this Scheme. Allowances will be paid on a pro-rata basis up to the date when membership ceases, or a Member no longer holds a position that attracts a Special Responsibility Allowance.
Annual Basic Allowance
| Member | £11,043 |
| 3 Special Responsibility Allowances in addition to the Basic Allowance | |
| 1. Chairman | £17,294 |
| 2. Vice Chair | £ 8,647 |
| 3. Chairs of all Committees | £ 6,115 |
| 4. Vice Chairs of all Committees and Lead Members | £ 3,459 |
Notes
Police Authority meetings include Meetings of the Authority, its committees, groups, panels, seminars and visits.
If a Member falls into more than one band of Special Responsibility Allowance (e.g. if the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Authority also chairs a committee), only one allowance may be claimed, and the higher of the two rates of payment will apply.
The Standards Committee recommend that arrangements for the monitoring of Members’ attendance at Authority Meetings (Authority meetings include meetings of the Authority, committees, groups, panels, seminars and visits) be put in place. The Monitoring Officer will be responsible for undertaking the monitoring role. Every six months the Monitoring Officer will review attendances and advise any Member who may fail to meet the required level of attendance.
If a Member, without good cause, fails to attend 70% of all Authority Meetings of which they are a Member, the Monitoring Officer will present a report to the Standards Committee for consideration.
Members will be invited to explain, in writing, the reasons for their level of attendance. The Standards Committee will submit a report to the Authority, to be considered within the public section of the meeting, recommending an appropriate course of action. This may result in a Member being required to repay such proportion of their attendance allowance as the Standards Committee and/or the Authority determines, or even a request to consider their position on the Authority.
With enhanced remuneration comes sharpened accountability and, therefore, a report will be made, on an annual basis, to the Audit and Inspection Committee detailing the number of meetings, together with the actual attendance by Members. This report would be included in the public part of the Agenda, and could also be posted on the Police Authority Website, as are details of the Members’ Allowance Scheme.
These monitoring arrangements will commence with effect from 1st October, 2002.
Police Appeals Tribunal Members
Members of the Police Authority appointed to Police Appeals Tribunals shall be paid at the same daily rate set by the Home Office for other Tribunal Members currently £211.50 (£104.50 per half day i.e. sittings of 4 hours or less).
Carers Allowance
Any Member who is required to pay a carer in order to attend Police Authority Meetings etc. may claim a carer’s allowance. This allowance shall be paid upon the production of a valid signed receipt, and shall be for actual expenditure incurred up to a maximum of £6 per hour.
Carer’s allowance may be claimed for the total hours it takes for a Member to leave home and return home after attending Police Authority Meetings. The allowance shall not be payable in respect of care provided by a Member of the claimant’s family or household.
Payments may be claimed in respect of children aged 16 or under in respect of other dependents where there is medical or social work evidence that care is required.
Independent (Lay) Members - Daily Attendance Allowance
Selection Panel £211.50 per day (£104.50 per half day sitting, i.e. sittings of 4 hours or less)
Standards Committee £211.50 per day (£104.50 per half day sitting, i.e. sittings of 4 hours or less)
Choosing not to claim
Any Member may choose not to accept part or all of the allowances to which they are entitled under this scheme. Such a decision should be notified by the Member to the Chief Executive in writing.
Annual Increases
The allowances referred to in this Scheme (with the exception of the allowances for members of Police Appeal Tribunals) shall be automatically revised each year, at the same time, and at the same percentage rate as the revisions to the salaries for police support staff. (i.e. effective from 1st September each year).
Travel and Subsistence Allowances
The rates payable for travel and subsistence allowances, together with rates payable for telephone installation and calls are set out below:-
Hotel accommodation
Hotel accommodation to be booked by the Authority and either:-
- Paid directly by the Authority; or
- Members reimbursed for receipted expenditure.
Subsistence Rates
Day (up to 12 hours) - £12
Day (over 12 hours/less than 24 hours) - £22
Overnight (24 hours) - £32
Up rated annually in line with inflation (1st September each year)
Meals on trains – Actual receipted expenditure
Travel
Rail – First Class
Taxi – Actual receipted expenditure
Motor vehicle – Inland Revenue Approved Rates (currently for all car sizes).
- Up to 10,000 miles 40 pence a mile
- Over 10,000 miles 25 pence a mile
Bicycle rates – 7 pence a mile
Telephone Allowances
1. The cost of installation, and
2. The quarterly costs, including call charges up to 300 units for the Chairman and 150 units for all other Members.
3. The monthly charge for Broadband access.
A copy of the relevant telephone bill should be attached to the claim form.
The above allowances in respect of telephone installation and monthly Broadband access are applicable to Independent and Lay Justice Members only.
Other Allowances
For the avoidance of doubt no other attendance allowance will be payable by the Authority, nor can any other allowances be claimed by Members, except in the instance of overseas travel when the appropriate Foreign and Commonwealth Office subsistence allowances may be claimed in place of the allowances identified in this Scheme.
General Note
A copy of the scheme is available from the Chief Executive, Civic Centre, Swinton, telephone no. 0161 793 3021.
Barbara Spicer
Chief Executive
Greater Manchester Police Authority
Salford Civic Centre
Swinton
M27 5DA
This page was last updated on 28 September 2009