| S.542 | Members present wished to place on record their interest in Agenda Item 6, 'Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel'. Reference was made to the difficult position in to which Members were placed when having to make a decision about Members’ Allowances on the basis of recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel.
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| S.543 | Mr R D Calrow asked questions relating to Members’ Allowances which incorporated the following issues:-
1.The cost of allowances for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004.
2.The basis upon which allowances for 2003/2004 were made.
3.The level of increase for Members’ Allowances in 2003/2004 compared with increases in employees’ salaries.
4.The role and membership of the Independent Remuneration Panel.
5.The degree to which Members regarded any part of their role as 'voluntary'.
In response, an undertaking was given to forward to Mr Calrow details of the cost of allowances for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004.
The Chief Executive explained the role of the Independent Remuneration Panel in making recommendations on Allowances for Members and explained that under Government Regulations, the final decision had to be taken by the Council.
Members indicated that any comparison between Members’ Allowances and employees’ salaries had to be set against existing levels. They also gave an outline of the nature and extent of duties undertaken by Elected Members.
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| S.544 | A report of the Chief Executive was submitted which presented to Members the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the issue of whether Pensions should be introduced for Elected Members of Bury Metropolitan Borough Council.
The Panel had recommended that the Council should adopt the principle of Pensions for Elected Members, which it considered would assist the Council in attracting and retaining Members from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups.
Members raised issues concerning the Independent Remuneration Panel in terms of its membership and composition and the Monitoring Officer indicated that she would look into the issues raised.
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| S.545 | The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 July 2003, were submitted.
With regard to Minute S.280, “Employee Car Loan Scheme”, it was reported that the intention was to bring a report back to the Audit Sub Committee and to this Committee in the December cycle of meetings.
With regard to Minute S.286, “Draft Revised Anti Fraud and Corruption Strategy”, it was reported that the Strategy was still the subject of consultation with the Trade Union representatives and was not available for consideration at this meeting.
With regard to Minute S.287, “Interpretation of the Protocol for Planning Committee Site Visits”, it was reported that Ward Councillors were notified of all site visits and were able to attend if they so wished.
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| S.547 | Further to Minute S.289 of the last meeting of the Committee, a report was submitted on the issue of whether Independent Members of the Standards Committee could also be Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel.
It was reported that the Local Authorities’ (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 stated that the Members Allowance Scheme may provide for the payment of an allowance to co-opted members in respect of attendance at conferences and meetings. As the Independent Remuneration Panel was charged with the responsibility of considering the issue of allowances for co-opted members, it would be contrary to the Government’s Guidance and not therefore appropriate to change the current policy whereby a member of the Panel could not also serve as an Independent Member of the Standards Committee.
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| S.548 | The Monitoring Officer submitted a report which set out a draft Local Adjudication Procedure in light of the new responsibilities attached to Standards Committees for dealing with misconduct allegations when they were made against Council Members.
Documents set out in the report included a proposed procedure for local hearings; a pre-hearing procedure/letter and a detailed 'hearing procedure'. Also attached to the report was a flow chart setting out the progress of complaints being dealt with in accordance with the proposed local adjudication procedure.
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| S.549 | Date for Special Meeting
It was reported that a Special Meeting of the Committee would have to take place prior to the next Council meeting in order to consider further recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel.
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