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DEMOCRACY COMMITTEE |
14 December 2017 |
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Appointment of Independent Member to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel |
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Final Decision-Maker |
Council |
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Lead Head of Service |
Angela Woodhouse, Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Caroline Matthews, Democratic Services Officer |
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Classification |
Public |
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Wards affected |
All |
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This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee: |
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That
this Committee Recommends to Council that an appointment is made of an
Independent Person to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel. |
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Timetable |
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Meeting |
Date |
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Democracy Committee |
14 December 2017 |
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Council |
28 February 2018 |
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Appointment of Independent Member to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel |
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1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
1.1 The Joint
Independent Remuneration Panel meets to review the Member’s Allowance Scheme on
a periodic basis. The last review was undertaken in 2015 when the Committee
system was introduced.
1.2 The Panel
recommended that another review should be held after eighteen months to two
years. Therefore the review is due now but unfortunately the Independent
Person appointed in 2014 has since passed away.
1.3 It has therefore
been necessary to go out to advertisement to recruit another person. This was
undertaken recently and the Council received one application.[A1]
1.4 The applicant meets
the criteria for the position as set out in Appendix A.
1.5
Members
of this Committee are requested to interview the applicant and make a
recommendation to Council to appoint if appropriate.
2. AVAILABLE OPTIONS
2.1 Do Nothing. This
is not an option as the Council has a statutory duty under the Local
Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 for an Independent
Panel to review its Members Allowances Scheme.
2.2 Appoint an
Independent Panel Member. This would ensure that the Council appoints in a
timely manner to enable the review of Members’ Allowances to be carried out in
March 2018.
2.3 Advertise again.
Should Members be minded not to make a recommendation to Council then Officers
would need to advertise again. However, it should be borne in mind that
responses have been low in the past and there would be a cost associated with
advertising more widely.
3. PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1 Appoint
an Independent Panel Member. This would ensure the Council’s
Joint Independent Remuneration Panel is able to meet in March next year
to
carry out a review of the Members Allowances Scheme.
4. RISK
4.2 It would also be in contravention of the requirements of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.[A2]
5. CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK
5.1 A consultation exercise with Members and Parishes on Members allowances would take place prior to the review meeting of the Panel in March.
6. NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION
6.1 If the
recommendation made by the Democracy Committee is to appoint the candidate then
this would be made to Council at its meeting on 28th February 2018.
6.2 If the recommendation is approved by Council then arrangements would be made to convene the Panel to carry out a review of the Members Allowance Scheme.
7. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS
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Issue |
Implications |
Sign-off |
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Impact on Corporate Priorities |
We do not expect the recommendations will by themselves materially affect the achievement of corporate priorities. However, they will support the Council’s overall achievement of its aims as set out in section 3
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Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
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Risk Management |
The review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme provides transparency to the public that the allowances paid are robustly reviewed and provide value for money |
Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
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Financial |
The proposals set out in the recommendation are all within already approved budgetary headings. We do not expect any changes made within the review to affect the budget significantly.
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Section 151 Officer & Finance Team |
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Staffing |
We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing. |
Head of Policy, Communications and Governance |
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Legal |
Accepting the recommendation will fulfil the Council’s duties under the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 |
Keith Trowell, Interim Team Leader (Corporate Governance) |
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Privacy and Data Protection |
There is no additional impact on privacy or data protection.
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Keith Trowell, Interim Team Leader (Corpiorate Governance) |
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Equalities |
The recommendations do not propose a change in service therefore will not require an equalities impact assessment |
Policy & Information Manager |
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Crime and Disorder |
There is no impact on crime and disorder. |
Head of Service or Manager |
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Procurement |
There is no procurement implications. |
Head of Service & Section 151 Officer |
8. REPORT APPENDICES
The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:
· Appendix 1: Advertisement
· Exempt Appendix – Application form
9. BACKGROUND PAPERS
None