Appendix 1
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The report of the Independent Remuneration Panel appointed to review the allowances paid to Councillors
of South Oxfordshire & Vale of White Horse District Councils
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1. INTRODUCTION and terms of reference
2. CONSIDERATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
2.1 Independent member of the joint audit and governance committee 1
2.2 Independent persons allowance 2
John Bradon – Local resident
David Rushton- Local resident
Mr Mark Palmer – Development Director, South East Employers (Chair)
- To ask the Independent Remuneration Panel to consider an appropriate level of remuneration for the role of independent person to the councils’ Joint Audit and Governance Committee. Although it is not yet mandatory for the councils to have an independent person on their joint audit committee, this is likely to be a requirement in the near future. The panel to recommend a suitable level of renumeration for such a role. The Panel to review the Monitoring Officer’s report to both councils setting out the background to the role and the personal specification for the independent person role on the Joint Audit and Governance Committee.
- To ask the Independent Remuneration Panel to consider an appropriate level of remuneration for the six independent persons dealing with code of conduct matters, if the panel consider that the roles should be remunerated. The Panel referenced the Monitoring Officer’s report and the recruitment pack for the code of conduct independent persons.
Council |
Amount per annum |
Link |
Peterborough |
£1500 |
|
Hertfordshire |
£1000 |
Independent Member of the Audit Committee | | November 2021 (jobsgopublic.com) |
Southend |
£1084 |
|
Sevenoaks & Dartford |
£1600 (two Councils) |
Independent Member - Audit Committee | March 2022 (jobsgopublic.com) |
Sunderland |
£3139 |
the Joint Audit and Governance Committee. The allowance from 1st April 2023 is
£3,535. The Panel was of the view that the Independent Person to the Councils Joint
Audit and Governance Committee should receive an allowance of 50% of the Chair of
the Committee.
WE RECOMMEND that the Independent Person to the Councils Joint Audit and
Governance Committee receive an allowance of 50% of the Chair of the
Committee: £1,768 from 1st April 2023.
Six Independent Persons dealing with Code of Conduct issues. The Panel also analysed the comparative data with regards the allowances for Independent Persons as set out in the South East Employers Members Allowance Survey October 2022. Finally, the Panel took note of the advice of the Monitoring Officer that each Independent Person spent around two days per annum assisting the Monitoring Officer.
Conduct issues should each receive an allowance based on 33% of the Independent
Person to the Councils Joint Audit and Governance Committee (£1,768 from 1st April
2023). This equates to £583 per annum.
WE RECOMMEND that the six Independent Persons dealing with Code of
Conduct Issues each receive an annual allowance of £583. This allowance is
based on 33% of the recommended allowance of the Independent Person to the
Councils Joint Audit and Governance Committee from 1st April 2023.
Development Director