Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales meeting: 16 January 2024

Frances Duffy, Chair
Saz Willey, Vice Chair
Bev Smith, Member
Dianne Bevan, Member 
Kate Watkins, Member 
Shan Whitby, Secretariat
Leighton Jones, PSWL, Local Government Policy

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (“Panel”) met on Tuesday 16 January 2024. 

The aim of the January meeting was to:

• review and agree November meeting notes (full and summary), note actions
• review Statement of payment returns for 2022 to 2023 Community and Town Councils
• review Statement of payments 2022 to 2023 Principal Councils, National Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities
• review Schedule of Member Remuneration 2023 to 2024
• discuss summary report of consultation responses
• discuss stakeholder and engagement meetings which took place in November and December
• discuss determinations
• update budget
• discuss any other business

Statement of payment returns for 2022 to 2023 Community and Town Councils 

A paper was presented to the Panel to review the Statement of payment returns for 2022 to 2023 Community and Town Councils. The paper showed a breakdown of returns and nil returns that have been submitted from all Community and Town Councils in Wales, followed by a breakdown by Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Out of the 534 returns submitted, 496 Councils submitted their return by the deadline of 30 September.

Statement of payments 2022 to 2023 Principal Councils, National Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities

A paper was presented to provide the Panel with a breakdown of all allowances paid to elected members for 2022 to 2023. The paper also provides comparisons from the last 4 financial years.

The Panel were asked to note that a full comparison was not currently possible as 2 of the authorities had failed to submit their 2022 to 2023 returns and neither had published the information of their websites.

Review Schedule of Member Remuneration 2023 to 2024

A paper was presented to the Panel to show principal councils, national park authorities (NPAs) and Welsh fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) annual Schedule of Member Remuneration, this does not include community and town councils.

A total of 20 Authorities published their Schedules of Remuneration on their website and sent a copy to the Secretariat by the deadline of 31 July 2023. Schedules of remuneration were received from all authorities with the exception of one NPA and one FRA.

Summary of consultation responses

The Panel met with all NPAs, 2 of the 3 FRAs and representatives of principal council and community town councils during the consultation period too obtain views on the proposed determinations.   

Having considered the feedback from engagement meetings, consultation on the draft report, evidence from the annual Statement of Payments, Schedules of Remuneration and written responses received by email, the Panel agreed that there would be no change to determinations included in the draft annual report issued in October 2023. The Secretariat will now draft the final Report for approval by the Panel before publication at the end of February.

Determinations 

The Panel discussed the formatting and publishing Determinations 2024 to 2025, which will be published by end of February 2024.

The Panel agreed the minutes and summary from November’s meeting. 

The Panel reviewed its budget in more detail and will have further discussions at next meeting.

The panel discussed attendance and sponsorship for upcoming One Voice Wales National Awards conference on 27 March 2024.

The next meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales will take place on 13 February 2024. 

Should you have any matters you wish to raise with the Panel, please do not hesitate to get in touch via the Secretariat by emailing IRPMailbox@gov.wales.