Issue - meetings

(a)       That the leader of the largest opposition group should receive a “senior salary” and the post to no longer receive a “senior salary” be the Chair of the Clwyd Pensions Panel;

(b)       That 20 half days be the maximum for which a co-opted member could be paid in any one year; and

(c)        That the Democracy & Governance Manager amend the Council’s Schedule of Member Remuneration to reflect the decisions taken and arising from the Panel’s annual report for 2013/14.

The Democracy and Governance Manager provided details of the proposed Council Schedule of Member Remuneration for 2013/14.

            In the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales report, it had been decided that the amounts of what it referred to as “basic salaries” and “senior salaries” and the number of “senior salaries” would remain the same for 2013/14.  It did, however, determine that a “senior salary” must be paid to the leader of the largest opposition group where that opposition group comprised at least 10% of the Council membership. 

            At present, the Schedule of Member Remuneration did not include the leader of the largest opposition group among the 18 posts entitled to receive a “senior salary”.  Therefore, the County Council was required to determine which of the existing posts should no longer receive a “senior salary”.  Details of the existing posts in receipt of a “senior salary” were appended to the report.

            On co-opted members, the Panel’s annual report made two changes.  Firstly, it was recognised that time spent on attending authorised training events, conferences and pre-meetings with officers qualified for payment to a co-optee of the co-optee’s allowance.  Secondly, the Panel’s annual report removed the limit of 10 days which was currently the maximum number of days for which a co-opted member could be paid in any one year.  It was for County Council to determine the maximum number of days for which a co-opted member should receive payments in any one year.  As nearly all committee meetings, training, events, conferences and pre-meetings only lasted half a day, it was believed that 20 half days would be sufficient.

            Councillor A.P. Shotton moved that the leader of the largest opposition group should receive a “senior salary” and the post to no longer receive a “senior salary” should be the Chair of the Clwyd Pensions Panel which was seconded by Councillor J.B.Attridge and on being put to the vote, was carried.

            Councillor A.P. Shotton moved that 20 half days be the maximum for which a co-opted member could be paid in any one year which was seconded by Councillor J.B. Attridge and on being put to the vote, was carried.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the leader of the largest opposition group should receive a “senior salary” and the post to no longer receive a “senior salary” be the Chair of the Clwyd Pensions Panel;

(b)       That 20 half days be the maximum for which a co-opted member could be paid in any one year; and

(c)        That the Democracy & Governance Manager amend the Council’s Schedule of Member Remuneration to reflect the decisions taken and arising from the Panel’s annual report for 2013/14.