Agenda and minutes

Democratic Services Committee - Tuesday, 12th March, 2019 10.00 am

Venue: Chamber - County Hall, Carmarthen. SA31 1JP. View directions

Contact: Kevin Thomas  01267 224027

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jim Jones.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of personal interest.

3.

TO APPROVE AND SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE 29TH JANUARY 2019 pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 29th January, 2019 be signed as a correct record

4.

INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL FOR WALES (IRPW) ANNUAL REPORT (FEBRUARY, 2019). pdf icon PDF 204 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report detailing the determinations and recommendations contained in the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’ (IRPW) Annual Report published in February, 2019 with a view to making recommendations to Council, at its April meeting, for inclusion within the Councillors’ and Co-opted Members’ Salaries and Allowances Scheme for 2019/20. It was noted that the IRPW’s Report contained a total of 49 determinations

 

The Committee was advised that its views were being sought on three elements of the IRPW’s report relating to the payments of Subsistence costs to members on official council business, Co-opted Members’ Fees and the publication of reimbursement of costs of care.

 

RESOLVED

4.1         that the following IRPW determinations for setting the level of salaries and allowances for 2019/20 be noted:-

 

-        An increase in the basic salary for elected members of principal local authorities to £13,868 (an increase of £268 or 1.97%)

-        An increase to the Band 1 and Band 2 senior salaries payable to the Leader, the Deputy Leader and Executive Members by £800, inclusive of the £268 increase to the basic salary received by all members

-        no changes to Band 3, 4 and 5 Senior Salaries (apart from the increase in basic salary of 1.97%

-        Removed the option for Civic Salaries based on level of responsibility and had determined that payment for a civic head and deputy civic head should now be made at Band 3, i.e. £22,568 for a civic head and at the Band 5 salary of £17,568 for a deputy civic head

-        Deleted the payment framework for Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committees, if in future a JOSC was formed by specific councils an application can be made to remunerate under parts 3.22 and 3.23 of the report.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL

 

4.2

That the rates of reimbursement for subsistence costs for members on official duty for 2019/20 be retained at existing levels and the current practice of all overnight accommodation for members being arranged through the Democratic Services Unit be continued

 

4.3

That the payment of Co-opted Members’ Fees for 2019/20 be  capped at  10 full day (of 20 half day) meetings;

 

4.4

That option 2 in relation to the Re-imbursement of Costs of Care be adopted, and the total amount reimbursed by the authority during the year be not attributable to any member

 

4.5

That Council accept the IRPW recommendations and determinations for 2019 and they be incorporated within the Council’s existing Councillors and Co-opted Members Allowances Scheme for 2019/20 based on a new IRPW pro-forma

 

5.

DEMOCRATIC SERVICES COMMITTEE FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received and considered a suggested Forward Work Programme for the 2019/20 municipal year

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Democratic Services Committee 2019/20 Forward Work Programme be adopted.