Issue - meetings

To consider a report (copy enclosed) advising the Committee of the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales, and how they will impact upon Independent Members of Standards Committee.

The MO introduced a report detailing the recommendations put forward by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW), which Denbighshire County Council are required to implement under s.153 Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011. The MO explained the context of the review of remuneration, citing the political pressure to decrease allowances as the main factor in setting a single rate that would apply across Wales to ensure fairness in the payment of county councillors and co-opted members with voting rights.

The IRPW prescribed the compulsory payment of the following ‘salaries’ for co-opted members:

Co-opted Chair, Standards Committee, £256/Day and £128/Half-Day

Co-opted Member, Standards Committee, £198/Day and £99/Half-Day

A maximum of ten full days a year were payable for each committee to which an individual may be co-opted, and payment for necessary expenses incurred for the care of children/dependants was capped at £403/Month. The current travel and subsistence rates payable to committee members were to be retained. The rates of remuneration had been implemented and payments made for April and May would be adjusted accordingly.

The number of ‘Senior Salaries’ a local authority could pay to councillors had also been limited in proportion to the relative size of each authority. Denbighshire County Council was able to pay 17 Senior Salaries under this arrangement but it was noted that the Council had opted to pay Senior Salaries in only 15 roles.

The MO added that it was compulsory for Denbighshire County Council to pay these rates, but that it was the choice of individuals whether or not they wished to claim these expenses.

RESOLVED – that the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales Report 2012/13 were noted.