Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales meeting: 22 October 2024

• Saz Willey, Vice Chair
• Bev Smith, Member
• Kate Watkins, Member
• Sara Rees, Secretariat
• Leighton Jones, Secretariat

External stakeholders attending the meeting

• Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru
• Roger Ashton- Winter
• Cher Cooke 
• Rhydian Fitter (one agenda item) 

Apologies

• Frances Duffy, Chair
• Dianne Bevan, Member

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (the Panel) met on Tuesday 22 October. 

The aim of the meeting was to:

• review and agree the minutes and summary of the September meeting, note the secretariat and budget updates and review and update the operational plan for 2024 to 2025
• consider and agree a number of papers presented to the Panel, which were: 
  • the scope of senior salaries at local authorities
  • the data transition from the Panel to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru
  • an update and the proposed the contents of the legacy report 
• review the updated communication plan

Below summarises the Panel’s discussions and decisions.

The Panel agreed the minutes and summary from the September strategy day and noted the budget update.

The Panel reviewed and discussed correspondence received from 3 community and town councils and 2 principal councils and its response to each 1.

The Panel considered a paper on the scope of senior salaries in local authorities. This scope will enable the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru to undertake a review of the framework and methodology for determining the remuneration of senior roles within principal councils in order to inform determinations for 2026 to 2027.

The Panel were provided with a background and update on the transition work undertaken by officials and asked to agree to the proposed timetable for the data transfer of files to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.

The Panel were presented with a draft version of the legacy report. This report will be published in March 2025 and aid the transition of functions from the Panel to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (DBCC). This report will include areas of interest where further consideration may be needed in the future, such as youth representation and co-opted members.

The Panel considered the updated communications plan that was presented by Rhydian Fitter, of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru.

The Panel discussed the feedback received following their attendance at the Head of Democratic Services meeting on 8 October. This meeting provided the Panel with an opportunity to discuss the proposals contained within the draft annual report for 2025 to 2026.

The draft annual report has been published, the consultation period closes on 29 November 2024. You can provide feedback on this draft report by completing the online form or by emailing us at irpmailbox@gov.wales.

The next meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales will take place on 15 November 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.