Issue - meetings

To recieve the annual report for the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’ (the ‘Panel’) 2020/21(copy enclosed).

RESOLVED:-

     I.        That the Democratic Service Committee notes the determinations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales for 2020/21 in respect of the payment of basic, senior and civic salaries and payments to co-opted members.

    II.        That the Democratic Service Committee notes the level of support provided to members to carry out their duties, with regard to ‘Determinations’ 9 and 10 of the Annual Report.

  III.        That the Democratic Service Committee requests the ‘New Ways of Working’ Group look into the allocation of senior salaries and report back to the Democratic Services Committee at a later date.

The Democratic Services Manager (DSM) introduced a report (previously circulated) in respect of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’ (IRPW) annual report for 2020 / 21.

The IRPW was required to produce an annual report setting out the levels at which members were paid for various duties and responsibilities for the municipal year. This report was published in February 2020. It was confirmed that the IRPW had decided to provide an increment of £350 to each councillor with no additional increases beyond that to be paid to senior salary holders in 2020.

Denbighshire County Council had a cap of 17 senior salaries that could be paid. The IRPW had requested particular attention by the Democratic Service committee be made to Determination 9 and 10 within the annual report. 

The following areas were discussed in greater depth by members:

• The senior salary provided to the leader of the largest opposition group was a salary the authority has to make. Some members raised concerns that the other group leaders were not getting the same financial recognition as the Leader of the largest opposition group. Members asked for the DSM to feedback to the IRPW their concerns on the legal requirement to offer a salary to the Leader of the largest opposition group and not all group leaders. Clarification and reasoning from the IRPW was sought.
• Denbighshire County Council currently have 2 Senior Salaries available. Confirmation that the decision of who received the senior salary roles was a Full Council decision. 
• Members felt caution was needed when looking at the allocation of Senior Salaries to members. The Head of HR, Legal and Democratic Services explained how the current allocation of senior salaries was distributed.
• The diversity aspect of the report was important.  Confirmation that the Welsh Government had an action plan for diversity within local authority representation was provided.
• Members felt that a good broadband connection was essential. With the introduction of remote meetings, it would be crucial for a good internet connection to enable members to access meetings.  The IRPW report had no additional funding available to support the addition of technology, devices and broadband connection. These would be issues to be resolved by individual local authorities.
• Members asked if the allocation of the senior salary payments could be reviewed by the new ways of working group. Any work that would be made by that working group would be presented back to the Democratic Service Committee. Councillor Timms felt that the decision to review the salaries of senior members was a decision for the next Council not present members, he was not in agreement that the working group needed to review the current arrangements.   

It was;

RESOLVED, that

1. the Democratic Services Committee notes the determinations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales for 2020/21 in respect of the payment of basic, senior and civic salaries and payments to co-opted members.
2. That the Democratic Services Committee considered the level of support provided to members to carry out their duties, with regard to ‘Determinations’ 9 and 10 of the Annual Report.
3. That a request would be made to the new ways of working group to look at the allocation of senior salaries to report back to this committee.