Meeting documents

Standards Committee
Wednesday, 22nd October, 2003 7.00 pm

Date:
Wednesday, 22nd October, 2003
Time:
7.00PM
Place:
The Irwell Room, Town Hall, Bury
 

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor J Smith (in the Chair);
Councillors W J Davison, C M Fitzgerald, J Grimshaw, D M Higgin and B Theckston.
Co-opted:
Mrs A Brown, Mr A Loyns and Mr A Withington.

There were no members of the public in attendance.

Apologies for absence:
Councillor K S Briggs and Mr J Lodge
Buttons
Item Description Decision
Open
S.685 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Preamble for item S.685
 
S.686 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Preamble for item S.686
 
S.687 REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT REMUNERATION PANEL - OCTOBER 2003
Preamble for item S.687
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL:

1. That with regard to Recommendation 1 made by the Panel, the Committee re-affirm the recommendations made at the last meeting held on 25 September 2003.

2. That Recommendation 2 made by the Panel be accepted.

3. That Recommendation 3 made by the Panel be accepted except that travel expenses be payable to Co-opted and Independent Members only when Out-of-Borough journeys are involved.

4. That Recommendation 4 made by the Panel be accepted.

(Note: In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.6, Councillor Davison asked that his abstention in regard to Recommendations 3 and 4 above be recorded).
The meeting started at 7.00pm and ended at 7.30pm

Preamble

Preamble
ItemPreamble
S.685The Independent Members wished to place on record their interest in Agenda Item 4, 'Report of the Independent Remuneration Panel - October 2003'.
S.686There were no members of the public present at the meeting.
S.687A report of the Chief Executive was submitted which presented to Members the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the following issues:-

-The payment of allowances to Co-opted Members.

-The levels of travel and subsistence allowances payable to Elected Members.

The Panel had also been informed of the recommendations which would be made by this Committee on the issue of Pensions for Elected Members and had made the following recommendations:-

1.The Panel wished to reiterate its view that this Council should adopt the principle of Pensions for Elected Members.

2.The Panel does not feel in a position at the present time to recommend that allowances should be paid to Co-opted and Independent Members. However, the Panel would wish to review this position at some time in the future on the basis of further evidence and information from Co-opted and Independent Members.

3.The Panel consider that travelling expenses should be payable to Co-opted and Independent Members at the rates payable to Elected Members. It also considers that subsistence allowances should apply on those occasions where Co-opted or Independent Members are required to undertake certain duties on behalf of the Council. An example would be attending a Conference outside of the Borough.

4.The Panel recommends that the Council continue to pay allowances for travel and subsistence which are consistent with nationally agreed guidance.