Agenda item

Report enclosed.

The committee considered the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel (agenda

item 15).

As per item 3 above, it was noted that the Chair had declared an interest relating to recommendation 1 as set out in the Panel’s’ report which referred to the Mayor’s allowance; the Chair would not vote on this recommendation.  It was also noted that Cllr Savage had declared an interest relating to recommendation 2 as set out in the Panel’s report which referred to the Deputy Mayor’s allowance; Cllr Savage would not vote on this recommendation. In terms of the Panel’s other recommendations, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor would vote in line with the provisions of the West of England Combined Authority Order.

The following points were highlighted in discussion:

1. Cllr Romero suggested that it was unfortunate that the level of Combined Authority member

remuneration had to be determined locally.  In her view, it would be much more appropriate

for national guidance to be issued.  She was mindful that the level of remuneration should be

set at a level that could act in an inclusive way to attract candidates across communities.

2. Mayor Rees also stressed the importance of ensuring that the level of member

remuneration was set at a level that would help enable (and not inhibit) people from a wide

range of backgrounds to consider seeking election to public office.  In his view, it was

important for local politicians to engage robustly in a public conversation around this point.

3. Professor West stated that it was important to recognise the crucial importance of these key member leadership roles.  The region’s communities deserved the best possible leaders.  The level of remuneration for these key member posts should reflect the significance of these roles and should be set openly and transparently at a level that would attract the highest quality candidates and widen the pool of potential quality candidates.

4. It was noted that the Panel would be conducting a further review and that it was anticipated that this would be concluded by December 2019.

The Chair then moved to the voting on the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel.

The committee RESOLVED:

To approve the recommendations of the Independent Review Panel, as follows:

Recommendation 1:  Mayor’s Allowance be increased to £65,000.

(Note: having declared an interest, Mayor Bowles did not vote on this recommendation).

Recommendation 2: Deputy Mayor’s Allowance set at 20% of the Mayoral allowance, £13,000 to be introduced.

(Note: having declared an interest, Cllr Savage did not vote on this recommendation).

Recommendation 3:  No other WECA members should, at this stage, receive allowances on the basis that, at the moment, these roles are part of the expectations placed on them by their constituent authorities.

Recommendation 4: The Panel recommends the Mayor’s travel and subsistence

continues in line with the current policy of using the South Gloucestershire

members travel and subsistence scheme. All other members should continue to be

paid by their constituent authorities.

Recommendation 5: The Panel recommends that Carers allowance continues to be paid by constituent authorities but that the issue of a Carers allowance for the Mayor should be considered at the next review.

Recommendation 6:  The Panel recommend that the increase in the Mayor’s allowance should be backdated to the 1^st April 2019 and the new Deputy Mayor’s allowance to take effect from the date of appointment to the role in 2019.

Recommendation 7:  The Panel recommends that in future allowances should be increased in line with the annual local government pay percentage increase as agreed by the National Joint Committee for Local Government Services.

Recommendation 8:  The Panel have conducted this first review at speed.  They recommend there should be a more detailed review commencing soon when they would wish to revisit the recommendations set out above in the light of more evidence including evidence from interviews with the Mayor, Deputy and other members of WECA.