The Monitoring Officer presented a report, that advised Council of the Annual Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (“the Panel”) in respect of the level and range of remuneration the Authority must make available to its elected members for the 2022/23 municipal year.

As part of some background information, she 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 fourteenth Annual Report of the Panel, and the eleventh published under the requirements of the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 (attached as 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 Panel’s Determinations for 2022/23 were shown at Annex 1 of the Annual Report (page 61 onwards). Section 153 of the Measure empowers the Panel to require a relevant authority to comply with the requirements imposed on it by the Annual Report.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that the Panel’s Annual Report 2022/23, proposed some changes to the current remuneration prescribed for elected members at Principal (County Borough) and Town and Community Council levels.

The paragraphs in the report from 4.2 to 4.17, summarised the key elements of the overall Report and the Monitoring Officer expanded upon some of this information, for the benefit of Members.

The Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011 requires the Panel’s Annual Report to take effect from 1 April. In most years, this is in line with financial and administrative arrangements of all authorities. However, when new councils are elected some of the Panel’s determinations are to be effective for the new municipal term.  On 9 May 2022, new municipal arrangements will come into effect following local government elections. This Annual Report therefore has two different effective dates as set out below:

• For the period 1 April 2022 to 8 May 2022, all of the Determinations contained in the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’ Annual Report 2021/22 will continue to apply in respect of principal councils and Community and Town Councils;
• With effect from 9 May 2022, (the new municipal year) the Determinations set out in this Annual Report 2022/23 in the sections on principal councils and community and town councils will apply. 

A Member asked when the opportunity would arise, to discuss what senior salaries would possibly apply to the various political positions in the Authority following the forthcoming Local Government elections.

The Monitoring Officer confirmed that this would take place at the Annual meeting of Council in May.

RESOLVED:                                

That Council noted the Annual Report for 2022/23 and approved:

1.         The adoption of the relevant Determinations of the Panel contained within the Annual Report (attached as Appendix 1);

2.         Those posts (shown in the revised Members’ Schedule of Remuneration at Schedule 1 of Appendix 2) who will receive a senior / civic salary;

3.         The revised Members’ Schedule of Remuneration (Appendix 2) and for it to become effective from 9 May 2022;

4.         That the Members’ Schedule of Remuneration be updated with any changes to senior / civic salary positions subsequently made by Council during the 2022/23 municipal year.