Issue - meetings

(a)       That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)       That future reports include a total for the ‘actual cost incurred’ column on Table 3.

The Finance Manager (Strategy & Technical) presented supplementary financial information to accompany the Draft Statement of Accounts 2012/13, as requested in the Notice of Motion approved by County Council on 29 January 2013.  Information was split into three tables to show salaries over £60,000 per year for Council employees, posts covered by interim or temporary arrangements and consultants and non-permanent posts.  The information was to be received annually alongside the Statement of Accounts following a Notice of Motion agreed by Council.

In line with the request, Table 1 listed Council employees not included in the ‘senior employee emoluments’.  Pension contributions by the employer were shown alongside total payments received by the employees under the heading ‘total remuneration excluding pension contributions’.  Table 2 listed the amounts paid to organisations to engage individuals on a temporary basis and indicated theoretical annualised costs as required by the Notice of Motion.  Table 3 listed non-permanent posts covered by consultants and included actual costs incurred by the Council alongside theoretical annualised costs.

The Chief Executive explained that Table 3 listed individuals for which permanent posts were not required, providing specific short-term support, for example, until services were finalised.  He cited the Out of County Review as an example where efficiencies had been made as a result of such external support.

Officers noted Councillor G.H. Bateman’s request that future reports include a total for the ‘actual cost incurred’ column on Table 3.  It was acknowledged that no value would be added for the final annualised costs column to be totalled as this was theoretical.  In response to a query on the role of Principal Accountant on Table 1, the Chief Executive explained that this related to the transfer from AD Waste in which salaries were in accordance with transfer legislation.  The Head of Finance confirmed that the post was included in the Finance structure but the postholder was subject to protective circumstances due to the transfer arrangements. In response to a query on Table 3 on Single Status, the Chief Executive advised that specialist support had been required to deal with this complex project through the engagement of a Project Manager with additional job evaluation analysts providing required additional resources.

In commenting on Single Status, Councillor I.B. Roberts said that spend on consultants was necessary if a satisfactory resolution was to be achieved.  He remarked on the likelihood that the number of consultants engaged in non-permanent posts to provide specific support would increase as workforce numbers reduced.  The Chief Executive agreed that this was a possibility and spoke of the potential for new projects which would require a business case for additional short-term support.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)       That future reports include a total for the ‘actual cost incurred’ column on Table 3.