Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were received.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Blakemore, Staton, Thornton and Tidd (Staveley Parish Council).

The Monitoring Officer presented a report with an update on the preparations to re-constitute the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP), to carry out a review of the Members’ Allowances Scheme. The Panel last met during 2019 and produced a report which was submitted to Full Council on 18 December 2019.

The Local Authorities (Members Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 requires the Council to establish an independent remuneration panel (IRP) and have due regard to their findings when establishing or updating their member allowances scheme.

* RESOLVED -

That the report be noted

To move “That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act".

Part 2 (Non Public Information)

RESOLVED –

That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report seeking approval for the appointment of the Independent Remuneration Panel 2023-2027.

The previous panel comprised Mr. Tim Nye, Mr. Andy Watterson and Mr. Nick Chischniak and was established in 2019. Mr Watterson agreed to continue to serve on the Panel for an additional term if asked, Mr Nye said he would do so if necessary, Mr Chischniak did not wish to. The Terms of Reference for the Panel (at Appendix 1) state that it should be ensured, where possible, that the Panel includes someone with experience of the Panel’s work. It is, therefore, recommended that Mr Watterson be reappointed to the Panel for a further four-year-term.

Applications for panel members were received from Ms Gemma Shepherd-Etchells and Mr Peter Clay, both from neighbouring councils’ Independent Remuneration Panels. Each were interviewed by the Chair of Standards and Audit Committee and the Monitoring Officer. Both applicants are recommended for appointment to the Independent Remuneration Panel.

* RESOLVED -

That the following individuals be appointed to the Independent Remuneration Panel for 2023-2027:

·        Andy Watterson

·        Gemma Shepherd-Etchells

·        Peter Clay