Issue - meetings

That the contents of the annual report and the decisions that will need to be made at the Council’s annual meeting be noted.

The Democracy and Governance Manager introduced a report to inform County Council of the annual report issued by the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW) for 2013/14.

            The Council currently pays a mileage rate of 40p per mile to Member and co-opted Members when using their own vehicle to travel to meetings and on other approved duties.  The annual report withdraws the ability for Councils to pay less than 45p per mile and at the annual meeting the Council’s schedule of member remuneration would have to be amended to increase this rate to 45p per mile in future. 

            In relation to co-opted members the annual report makes two changes to the current arrangements.  Firstly, it had been recognised that time spent on attending authorised training events, conferences and pre-meetings with officers qualify for payment to a co-optee.  This change was one that the Council had suggested when responding to consultation on the draft report.  Secondly, the annual report removed the limit of 10 days which currently was the maximum number of days for which a co-opted member may be paid in any one year and left it to individual Councils to decide a maximum number of days.

            Councillor W. Mullin proposed that the County Council support the recommendation as shown in the report.  This proposal was seconded by Councillor J.B. Attridge.  

            Councillor A.M. Halford thanked the Democracy and Governance for the report.  She outlined the work of the co-opted member for the Audit Committee, Mr. Paul Williams, who was the Vice-Chair of the Committee and was pleased that he would be reimbursed for the work he carried out. 

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the annual report and the decisions that will need to be made at the Council’s annual meeting be noted.