Joint Independent Remuneration Panel - Appointment of Independent Member

 

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

General Purposes Group

 

Monday 8 December 2014

 

REPORT OF Head of Policy and Communications

 

Report prepared by Caroline Matthews 

 

 

1.           Joint Independent Remuneration Panel - Appointment of Independent Member

 

1.1        Issue for Decision
 

1.1.1   To appoint an Independent Member to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel and note the recent appointment of a representative from the Chamber of Commerce.

 

1.2        Recommendation of the Head of Policy and Communications

1.2.1  (a)   That the General Purposes Group consider the application          
                 received, interview the candidate and make an appointment to              
                 the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel for a three year period
                 if the candidate is deemed suitable; and

         (b)    Note the recent appointment of a representative from the
                 Chamber of Commerce to the Panel for a three year period.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

 

1.3.1   Following the resignation of the previous Independent Person in early 2013 there have been unsuccessful attempts to recruit another independent person. However, following a recent recruitment exercise where the position was advertised on the Council’s website, a member of the public did express an interest in the position and formally applied.  A copy of the job description for this position is attached as Appendix A. 

1.3.2   It is proposed that the interview be conducted in private because of the likely disclosure of information relating to an individual.





1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

 

1.4.1   The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 require the Council to establish an Independent Remuneration Panel to review Members allowances on an annual basis.  In September 2010 Council approved the establishment of a Joint Independent Remuneration Panel with Swale Borough Council.

1.4.2   The Group could decide not to appoint but this will delay the annual review of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel as it cannot meet without all the required Members of the Panel.  Although it should be borne in mind that Swale Borough Council do not wish to participate at this time as they have no new business to put before the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel.  However, to enable the Panel for Maidstone to meet, they would still need all its Members present, i.e. the representatives from South East Employers and Maidstone Chamber of Commerce and the Independent Member.

 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

 

1.5.1   This report supports the Council’s corporate objectives of corporate and customer excellence.  The purpose of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel is to make recommendations to the authority about the allowances to be paid to elected members.

 

1.6        Risk Management

1.6.1   There are no risks associated with this report.

 

1.7        Other Implications

1.7.1    

1.      Financial

 

 

 

2.           Staffing

 

 

 

3.           Legal

 

x

 

4.           Equality Impact Needs Assessment

 

 

 

5.           Environmental/Sustainable Development

 

 

6.           Community Safety

 

 

7.           Human Rights Act

 

 

8.           Procurement

 

 

9.           Asset Management

 

 

1.7.2 Legal

 

         The Legal implications are dealt within the body of the report

 

1.8        Relevant Documents

 

1.8.1   Appendix A – Job Description

1.8.2   Background Documents

 

 

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT?                  THIS BOX MUST BE COMPLETED

 

 


Yes                                               No

 

 

If yes, this is a Key Decision because: ……………………………………………………………..

 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

 

Wards/Parishes affected: …………………………………………………………………………………..

 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..