Issue - meetings

The Head of Personnel – Mr Young highlighted for the benefit of new Members of the Committee, the role and functions of the Remuneration Committee, as detailed in the circulated report. Mr Young also explained the terms of reference of the Committee as shown and gave a brief resume of the exact meaning of each.

The Chair asked if there were any particular questions/comments.  Councillor Meehan advised that in respect of the terms of the reference for the Committee the comment stated at the footnote was incorrect as to the appointment and dismissing of senior officers. This remit fell to that of the Special Committee (K2) and the actual decision of that Committee was forwarded to Full Council for approval and not General Purposes Committee as stated.

Mr Young then briefly introduced the independent adviser to the Remuneration Committee for the previous year – Mr Penn – who was from the Local Government Employers Association and was in effect an external independent auditor of the Senior Officer appraisal process.  Mr Penn’s advising capacity was in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Remuneration Committee and was to comment on the level of increment awarded to senior officers, including Mr Young himself.  It would be wholly inappropriate for Mr Young, in his capacity as Head of Personnel and a senior officer, to advise on the level of increments to be awarded.

Councillor Bull sought clarification as to whether it was a requirement of the Remuneration Committee to formally consider and appoint the external advisor to the Committee.  In response Mr Young advised that when the Committee had been established this had been carried, and it was entirely appropriate to reconsider this.  

Mr Penn, in reiterating his ambit, felt that it would be of use to circulate the previously considered report which recommended appointment of the external advisor to the Committee.  Mr Penn also advised that he was employed and nominated by the Local Government Employees Association as independent advisor to the Committee.   

The Chair then summarised and it was:

RESOLVED

i.                    that a report recommending the appointment of external advisers to the Remuneration Committee be brought to the next meeting of the Committee; and

ii.                  that the previously considered report which recommended appointment of the external advisor to the Committee be circulated to all Members of the Remuneration Committee.