Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales meeting: 3 September 2024

• Frances Duffy, Chair
• Saz Willey. Vice Chair
• Bev Smith, Member
• Dianne Bevan, Member 
• Kate Watkins, Member
• Sara Rees, Secretariat
• Leighton Jones, Secretariat
• Elaina Chamberlain, Secretariat

External stakeholders attending the meeting

• Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru
• Shereen Williams (observer)
• Roger Ashton- Winter
• Cher Cooke 

The Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales (the Panel) met on Tuesday 4 September. 

The aim of the strategy day was to:

• agree the draft annual report for 2025 to 2026
• discuss and agree an outline for the Panel’s legacy report
• consider and agree response to consultation on job sharing

The Panel also considered: 

• research and evidence paper, supporting draft annual report
• fire and rescue authorities and national park authorities , senior salaries remuneration
• evidence from equality groups and feedback from engagement sessions on impact of determinations
• an update from the Chief Executive of the Democracy and Boundary Commission (DBCC) on work of the Democratic Health Task and Finish Group (DHFTG)
• Future Generations Act 2015 impact on the Panel’s operations and deliverables
• risk register       

Below summarises the Panel’s discussions and decisions.

The Panel considered a research and evidence paper that was presented by Saz Willey. This paper would inform the Panels decision on the annual uprate of allowances for the 2025 to 2026 financial year. This paper will be published alongside the final annual report in February 2025.

The Panel were also presented with a paper on the remuneration for fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) and national parks authorities (NPAs). This paper provided information evidence gathered on the remuneration of chairs and deputy chairs of FRAs and NPAs. Research will be included in the legacy report to enable the DBCC to take forward.

The Panel were updated on feedback from engagement sessions held between members of the Panel and stakeholders. The Panel will be meeting authorities throughout the consultation period of their draft annual report.

The Panel were provided with an update from the Democratic Health Task and Finish Group and considered areas for the report which included a scoping of further work on senior salaries and the Panel’s implementation of the Future Generations Act.

The Panel also discussed the outline of what is to be included in the legacy report and the proposed publication. 

Alongside the discussions and decisions of the draft annual and legacy reports, the Panel also agreed to a response on a Welsh Government consultation. This related to the extension of job share provisions for elected members of principal councils to non-executive roles.

In addition, the Panel agreed to adopt the minutes of the July meeting.

The Panel considered and agreed a response to a query received from a principal council.

The next meeting of the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales will take place on 22 October 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.