The Monitoring Officer presented a report, to advise Council of the Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales in respect of the level and range of remuneration the Authority must make available to its Members for the 2020/21 municipal year. 

The report also advised of a Draft Supplementary Report issued by the Panel relating to the reimbursement of Costs of Care which is the subject of consultation.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that, The Local Authorities (Allowances for Members) (Wales) Regulations 2007 provided for the establishment of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales.   

This was the twelfth Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (the Panel), and the ninth published under the requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (attached at Appendix 1 to the report).  The Measure extended the responsibilities of the Panel and its powers under Section 142 to decide (prescribe) payments to members of relevant authorities.

The determinations of the Independent Remuneration Panel Annual Report 2020 were shown at Appendix 2 of the report, for ease of reference.

She advised, that although public sector funding continues to be constrained, the Panel considers that an increase in the basic salary is justified. It has determined there shall be an increase of £350 per annum (which equates to 2.5%) effective from 1 April 2020 to the basic salary for members of principal councils. The proposed increase applied to the basic salary for members of principal councils is in recognition of the basic duties expected of all Elected Members.  The basic salary in 2020/2021 for Elected Members of principal councils was proposed at £14,218.  (Determination 1).

The Panel determined that no additional increases will be paid to senior salary holders in 2020-21.  Members received an uplift in last year’s annual report and senior salary holders will receive only the basic salary element increase.  The senior salary levels in 2020-21 for members of principal councils shall be as set out in Table 5, page 17 of the report (Appendix 1 refers).  The Panel considers that the leadership and executive roles carry the greatest individual accountability and that size of population remains a major factor in influencing levels of responsibility and the use of the population groups has therefore been retained.  (Determination 2).  

In terms of the Draft Supplementary Report, the Panel proposed a set of principles that should be adopted by all relevant authorities and has issued a consultation document requesting that responses be submitted to the Panel by 9 April 2020, prior to the publication of the final Report.  The draft supplementary report sets out the Panel’s proposals for consultation, which is attached at Appendix 3 to the report and sets out what the minimum authorities should do and how this could be done with regard to the Reimbursement of the Costs of Care.  The purpose of the proposal is to enable all members and co-opted members of relevant authorities to carry out their duties effectively. 

The Monitoring Officer clarified, that the draft supplementary report, had been circulated to Group Leaders and would be presented to the Democratic Services Committee on 12 March 2020, in order that the Committee may consider the set of principles and respond accordingly to the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales by the deadline of 9 April 2020.  

RESOLVED:                 (1)     Council noted the Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales 2020 and approved:

·      The adoption of the relevant determinations of the Independent Remuneration Panel contained within its report (at Appendix 1);

·         Those posts (as shown in the revised Members’ Schedule of Remuneration at Appendix 4 to the report), who will receive a senior/civic salary;

·         The level of remuneration for the Senior and Civic Salaries (where appropriate);

·         The revised Members’ Schedule of Remuneration at  Appendix 4 of the report and that this becomes effective from 1 April 2020;

·         That the Members’ Schedule of Remuneration be updated with any changes to Senior/Civic Salary positions subsequently made by Council during the 2020-21 municipal year.

                                   (2)               Council further noted the draft supplementary report (at Appendix 3 to the report) for the Reimbursement of the Costs of Care and the deadline of 9 April 2020 for responses.