Chapter 8 - Reviewing and Uprating Arrangements for the Future and Issues for Further Consideration
Introduction
8.1 In our 2006 report, we indicated that we believed the Committee should review the arrangements put in place by individual Councils including consideration of salaries introduced for senior councillors and introduction of role descriptions and training plans. These are covered respectively in Chapters 3 and 7 of this report. Our review of salary figures is dealt with in Chapter 4.
Publication of details of councillors' salaries and expenses and training
8.2 Councils are required to publish information on councillors' salaries and expenses, at least once a year, on their website. These costs cover the immediately preceding financial year. We recognise that there may be instances where a councillor is also a convener, vice convener or member of a Joint Board which may result in that member incurring considerable expense in relation to his/her Joint Board duties. We believe it would be reasonable for these members to have separate entries covering their expenses paid to them as a member of their own Council and those paid to them as a member of the Joint Board.
8.3 In Chapter 7, we recognised that some Councils had taken considerable steps to offer training to their members. The Scottish Ministers' response to our recommendations on training indicated that Councils should publish information on councillor training at the same time as they publish information on councillors' remuneration. Some authorities had done so in June 2008 but others had not. We believe this should be a requirement (see Recommendation 22).
Issues for future consideration
Issues identified in our 2006 report
8.4 There was a range of issues identified in our 2006 report which we continue to believe would be worthy of consideration.
8.5 Firstly, we would wish to consider the position where an individual who is an employee of one local authority can also carry out a role as a councillor in another local authority. While this may not be a difficulty for a Council employee who only receives the councillor's basic salary, we feel that consideration should be given to the compatibility of carrying out the role of a senior councillor or Council Leader, in addition to another role in a local authority. We continue to believe that these roles require, on the whole, a full time commitment, for which we proposed a full time salary. We therefore consider that it might not be feasible for a senior councillor, or a Council Leader, to continue in another local authority role for which he/she is being paid another salary by a local authority.
8.6 Secondly, we are concerned that some Councils and other public bodies offer paid time-off for staff to carry out their role as a councillor. We would like to consider the appropriateness of this as a use of public funds given that councillors are now in receipt of a basic salary for carrying out their role.
8.7 Thirdly, we would like to consider in more detail the arrangements that apply to councillors who are appointed to public bodies. Although these appointments tend to be made by Ministers, individuals can be appointed primarily because of the role they carry out as a councillor. We would also wish to examine the position where, in the case of senior councillors, membership of other bodies might be seen as part and parcel of their role as a senior councillor, and should thus be covered by their senior councillor's salary.
Issues identified by Councils
8.8 The Cabinet Secretary made clear that the Committee should restrict the current review to looking at how the remuneration package was being implemented by Councils and to considering the levels of remuneration as part of an annual uprating review. He also indicated that the Committee should undertake a fundamental review every 5 years (quinquennial review).
8.9 A number of issues were identified by Councils which were outwith the remit of this review. However, it would seem to us appropriate to consider these as part of our fundamental review. These include:
- Level of basic salary.
- Workload of councillors.
- Number of senior councillors.
- Differential between basic and senior councillor salaries, particularly in Band A and Band B Councils.
- Travel from place of employment.
- The use of leased cars.