Issue - meetings

The Council was required to conduct the next review of councillors’ allowances in 2023 following the local elections.  Under The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (“the 2003 Regulations”), the Council must appoint an independent remuneration panel to make recommendations as to the type and level of allowances to be included in the next scheme of allowances for councillors.  The Council had a duty to have regard to the panel’s recommendations.

Waverley Borough Council was also committed to conduct a review of allowances for its councillors following next year’s local elections.

Taking account of the current collaborative arrangements for joint working, both councils had agreed to establish a Joint Independent Remuneration Panel (JIRP) to conduct separate reviews of the allowances payable to councillors of both authorities and make separate recommendations to both councils.  The panel would also act as a parish remuneration panel and would be required to produce a separate report collectively for the parish councils in Guildford borough and another report for the town and parish councils in Waverley borough.

At its meeting on 11 October, the Council had approved the terms of reference of the JIRP, and the re-appointment of three persons who had served previously on the independent remuneration panels for both Guildford and Waverley.  Both councils had expressed a wish to appoint a JIRP comprising five members.  Accordingly, the Democratic Services and Elections Manager had been authorised to advertise for candidates from the general public and a wide range of organisations, including the local business community and voluntary organisations, for the appointment of up to two other members of the JIRP to serve for a period of up to four years commencing with the 2023-24 municipal year. 

Following the advertisement, four candidates had been shortlisted for interview by a panel comprising the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of both councils.  After one of the candidates withdrew, the panel interviewed the three remaining candidates and had recommended that Rodney Bates and Paul Marcus be appointed to the JIRP.

Upon the motion of the Lead Councillor for Planning Development, Legal and Democratic Services, Councillor Tom Hunt seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Julia McShane, the Council

RESOLVED: That Rodney Bates and Paul Marcus be appointed to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of up to four years commencing with the 2023-24 municipal year.

Reason:

To comply with the requirements of The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003, and both councils’ wish to establish a JIRP comprising of five members.