Agenda and minutes

Virtual Extraordinary Meeting (At present members of the public are unable to attend), Democratic Services Committee - Monday, 23rd November, 2020 1.30 pm

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Contact: Shirley Cooke 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Declaration of Interest

To receive any declaration of interest from a Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

None received.

2.

Minutes

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The draft minutes of the Committee’s previous meeting held on 30 July 2020 were confirmed as correct.

 

Reference was made to Item 3 of the minutes, and concerns raised that some Town and Community Councils had not participated in the Boundary Commission’s consultation on electoral arrangements.

 

The Head of Democratic Services responded that very few Town and Community Councils had commented on the proposals referred to in the Commission’s final report.

3.

Review of the electoral arrangements for the Isle of Anglesey County Council by the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales pdf icon PDF 295 KB

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Submitted - an update report by the Head of Democratic Services, following reports presented to this Committee on 30 July and 25 September 2020, as part of the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales’ review of the County Council’s electoral arrangements.

 

The Head of Democratic Services reported that the Commission published its draft proposals for consultation on 16 June 2020, which were consistent with the County Council’s recommendations on 7 October 2020, for a model based on 14 wards and 35 Members.

 

It was noted that this Committee’s recommendations, which included changing the name of the new Braint ward to Bodowyr, were accepted by the County Council on 8 September 2020 and adopted by the Commission. The Boundary Commission’s final recommendations will be presented to the County Council on 8 December 2020 for approval. It is hoped to introduce the new changes in time for the 2022 elections.

 

RESOLVED:-

 

·      To note the Boundary Commission’s final recommendations, and

·      To recommend that the County Council’s accepts the Boundary

 Commission’s final recommendations on 8 December 2020.

4.

Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales – Draft Annual Report for 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 320 KB

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Submitted - a report by the Head of Democratic Services on the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (IRPW)’s draft Annual Report, which sets allowances payable to elected Members and co-opted members with voting rights.

 

The Head of Democratic Services reported that the IRP’s Draft Annual Report for 2021/22 has been published for consultation until 23 November 2020. The Panel will publish its final report in February 2021.

 

The Head of Democratic Services gave a summary of the following proposed changes:-

 

·      To increase the basic salary for elected members by £150 to £14,368;

·      To increase senior salaries by 1.06%, the same rate as the basic salary;

·      To increase the salaries for civic heads and their deputies - Chairs of

Committees to receive £23,161 (Band 3), and Vice-Chairs to receive £18,108 (Band 5);

·      To increase payments to co-opted members by £12 per day;

·      That formal care costs (registered with Care Inspectorate Wales) be

reimbursed in full;

·      That informal (unregistered) care costs be reimbursed to a maximum rate equivalent to the Real Living Wage, at the time the costs are incurred.

 

It was noted that the above changes will take effect from 1 April 2021.

RESOLVED to accept the draft determinations in the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales’ report for 2021/22.

5.

Changes to adoption absence for local authority members pdf icon PDF 110 KB

To submit a report by the Head of Democratic Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Submitted - a report by the Head of Democratic Services on a Welsh Government consultation document to expand the terms of adoption absence for local authority Members.

 

The Head of Democratic Services reported that the monthly cap on payments will be replaced by formal and informal care costs.

 

It was noted that Welsh Government is seeking to ensure that the terms of employment for elected Members will be more favourable, and that absences will be brought in line with those of staff, which permit 26 weeks of absence.

 

The Committee welcomed the proposal, and hoped that greater interest would be generated by younger individuals, and women in particular in becoming

Members of the Council.

 

RESOLVED to accept the proposed changes outlined in the Welsh Government consultation document, and authorise the Head of Democratic Service to respond accordingly in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee.