Agenda item

To consider a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel 

The Chairman invited Councillor Ashley O’Neill, Cabinet Member with responsibility for governance, to introduce a report seeking Council approval for the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) in relation to the remuneration of any co-opted member of the Audit & Governance Committee.

Councillor O’Neill reported that the IRP is convened under The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances)(England) Regulations 2003 and they recently undertook a review  of the remuneration for an independent co-opted member for the Audit and Governance Committee and concluded that they should receive remuneration, with a recommendation of £2,000 per annum. This followed a decision by Council on 17 May 2022 to delegate appointment of a co-opted member to the Committee.

Councillor O’Neill proposed the motion as detailed in the report, this was seconded by Councillor Ian Blair-Pilling.

Group Leaders were invited to comment and those present expressed their support for the proposals.

The item was then opened for general debate with issues raised about the independence of potential co-opted members; the role of the Committee; and the potential need for a future review of the Chair’s role. 

Councillor Mark Connolly, Chairman of the Audit & Governance Committee, supported the proposals and welcomed the role of the co-opted member. 

In response to the debate Councillor O’Neill noted the importance of any co-opted member to be completely independent.

Following a vote, it was,

Resolved:

That the remuneration for the independent co-opted member of the Audit & Governance Committee should be £2,000 per annum.

In accordance with the Constitution there was a recorded vote.

For:              77

Against:        0

Abstentions: 2

Full details are attached to the minutes.