Agenda item

Independent member A Mellor informed the Committee that she would be visiting Trefnant Community Council in October.

Independent Member J Hughes (JH) had attended a meeting of Clocaenog Community Council on the 18^th July 2017. JH informed the Committee that this was a Council administered by a Clerk who ran multiple community councils.

JH noted that the Clerk led the meeting and although all members participated fully tasks generally fell to the Clerk to complete. The Committee agreed that at Council meetings the  Chair should lead the meeting and the Clerk’s role was that of adviser. They questioned whether training for Chairs would be beneficial?

JH was asked to give her opinion on the Council’s website and what further information she would find useful to have on it. JH had found the meeting very interesting and had been made to feel most welcome.

JH had also been invited to attend a meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW). JH had been under the impression from the invitation that the meeting would involve a range of people but it had turned out to be a one to one meeting with a panel member.

The MO apologised for JH not having received a briefing note and went on to explain the purpose of the IRPW. The panel set:

·         basic salary for all county councillors;

·         senior salaries for cabinet members;

·         payments to chair of scrutiny and council;

·         largest opposition group leader pay;

·         cap on the number of senior salaries to pay;

·         payments to co-opted members and lay members and

·         rules around expenses set and communication devices etc.

These amounts are specified in the IRPW Annual Report. The draft annual report is produced in the autumn (hence the recent meetings) with the final report being completed around February, to be adopted in the next municipal year.

JH informed the Committee that the IRPW member wanted to know what work the Standards Committee undertook; the type of activity; what were they paid for and what information were Committee members given about what they could claim for?

JH felt that given that they would shortly be filling new seats on the Committee this was an appropriate time to discuss and clarify what:

1.    members could and could not claim for and

2.    was over and above the remit of the Committee e.g. could members attend CT&C meetings if they didn’t have a car or had caring responsibilities?

The Chair agreed that a clearer framework was needed in which to operate. The members needed to know what they were entitled payments for. He asked for confirmation that the maximum number of paid days for lay members was 10 days per annum. GW to seek clarification.

RESOLVED that:

1.    the attendance be noted and the attendance report updated

2.    the current remuneration scheme for lay members be circulated and

3.    an item on Lay member remuneration / responsibilities be placed on the Standards Committee agenda for 8^th December 2017.