Agenda and minutes

(Director of Governance) To elect a Chairman for the meeting of the Panel.

RESOLVED:

That S. Lye be elected as Chairman of the Remuneration Panel for the duration of the meeting.

Pursuant to the Council's Code of Member Conduct, D. Jackman declared a non-pecuniary personal interest in agenda item 4 (Parish Remuneration Schemes – Review) by virtue of being employed by a number of local councils. Mr. Jackman declared that his interest was not prejudicial and indicated that he would remain in the meeting during the consideration of the item.

(Director of Governance) To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 6 January 2014.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Remuneration Panel held on 6 January 2014 be taken as read and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

(Director of Governance) As the Panel will be aware, the annual review of parish remuneration schemes has traditionally commenced in September each year, to ensure that new schemes or changes to existing schemes are considered by the time that the District Council and Parish/Town Council precepts are approved for the following financial year (usually February/March). Remuneration schemes for the town and parish councils run for four years and the following local councils currently have schemes in place:

Buckhurst Hill Parish Council

Chigwell Parish Council

Epping Town Council

Epping Upland Parish Council

Fyfield Parish Council

High Ongar Parish Council

Loughton Town Council

Ongar Town Council

Roydon Parish Council

Stapleford Abbotts Parish Council

Theydon Bois Parish Council

Waltham Abbey Town Council

To commence the process for 2015/16, the Clerks of all parish and town councils have recently been reminded of the options for parish remuneration and requested to indicate whether their local council wishes to either introduce or amend an existing remuneration scheme. In the event of a local council wishing to introduce or amend a scheme, the Clerks have also been ask to submit details and the date from which such scheme is to be operative. Each parish and town council has been advised that if they wish to continue with their existing schemes for another year without alteration, they do not need to respond, but that they should take account of the fact that schemes have to be reviewed by the Panel after four years of operation.

At the time of the publication of this agenda, no proposals for the introduction or amendment of remuneration schemes had been submitted by local councils for consideration by the Panel. The Democratic Services Manager will report in connection with any proposals submitted for consideration by the Panel subsequent to the publication of the agenda.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that the annual review of parish remuneration schemes had traditionally commenced during September each year, to ensure that new schemes or revisions to existing schemes were considered by the time that the District Council and Parish/Town Council precepts are approved for the following financial year. Members were reminded that remuneration schemes for the town and parish councils were required to be reviewed after a period of four years.

The Panel was advised that, to commence the process for 2016/17, the clerks of all parish and town councils have recently been reminded of the options for parish remuneration and requested to indicate whether their local council wished to either introduce or amend an existing remuneration scheme. Members noted that, in the event of a local council wishing to introduce or amend a scheme, clerks had also been asked to submit details and the date from which such scheme was intended to be operative. Each parish and town council has been advised that, if they wished to continue with existing schemes for another year without revision, they should take account of the fact that schemes had to be reviewed by the Panel after four years of operation.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that, at the time of the publication of the agenda for the meeting, no proposals for the introduction or amendment of remuneration schemes had been submitted by local councils for consideration by the Panel, but that it was understood that a number of council’s were in the process of considering the possible implementation of new schemes.

RESOLVED:

That a report be made to the next meeting of the Panel, setting out the current position with regard to the remuneration schemes adopted by individual local councils, particularly with regard to the adopted criteria for the payment of travel and mileage expenses, and the requirement for such schemes to be reviewed after each four-year period of operation.

Recommendation:

That the Panel formally confirm its agreement of the proposal of Waltham Abbey Town Council to introduce a Remuneration Scheme from 1 April 2014.

(Director of Governance) As the Panel will be aware, a request was made by Waltham Abbey Town Council in April 2014 for the introduction of a Remuneration Scheme comprising:

(a)       a Mayor’s Allowance of £3,000 per annum; and

(b)       the reimbursement of travel expenses and/or mileage incurred in the course of the council’s business at a rate of 45p per mile.

As the Town Council’s proposed remuneration scheme was within the Panel’s guidelines, the request was approved by email by each member of the Panel, without a formal meeting being convened to consider the proposed scheme. In the circumstances, it is necessary to formally record the decision taken by members of the Panel by email in respect of the Waltham Abbey Town Council Scheme, to support the document already signed by each member confirming such decision.

The Democratic Services Manager reported that, in April 2014, the Panel had considered a proposal of Waltham Abbey Town Council for the introduction of a remuneration scheme comprising:

(a)       a Mayor’s Allowance of £3,000 per annum; and

(b)       the reimbursement of travel expenses and/or mileage incurred in the course of the Council’s business at a rate of £0.45 per mile.

Members were reminded that, as the Town Council’s proposed remuneration scheme had been within the Panel’s previously adopted guidelines for such schemes, the request had been approved by email by each member, without a formal meeting being convened to consider the proposed scheme. The Democratic Services Manager advised the Panel that, in the circumstances, it was therefore now necessary to formally record the decision taken by members in respect of the Waltham Abbey Town Council Scheme, to support the approval of the scheme.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the agreement of the Panel to the proposal of Waltham Abbey Town Council for the introduction of a remuneration scheme from 1 April 2014, be confirmed; and

(2)       That the Chairman and Clerk of Waltham Abbey Town Council be invited to attend a future meeting of the Panel, to discuss the operation of the remuneration scheme and the level of Mayor’s Allowance incorporated therein.

To consider arrangements for future meetings of the Panel, if required.

The Panel agreed that a further meeting be arranged as necessary, to consider any proposals for the revision or introduction of remuneration schemes submitted by local town and parish councils in response to the options for parish remuneration previously issued by the Director of Governance.