Agenda and minutes

You are welcome to use Welsh at the meeting, a minimum notice period of 3 working days is required should you wish to do so.  A simultaneous translation will be provided if requested.

It was noted that no requests had been received for the simultaneous translation service

To receive.

The following apologies were received from:-

Statutory Head of Democratic Services

Councillor T. Sharrem

To consider any declarations of interest and dispensations received.

A Member asked if Elected Members who received a remuneration for their various activities needed to declare an interest in their respective outside representations. The Chief Officer advised that Members could declare an interest, however the Chief Officer felt that there was not a need on this occasion as no decisions were being required.

The following declarations of interest was made:-

Item No. 7

Statement of Payments made to Members in 2020/2021

Councillor M. Day – Tai Calon Board Member

Councillor G.A. Davies – Tai Calon Board Member

Councillor J. Hill – Brecon Beacons National Park

Councillor B. Summers – Silent Valley Board

Councillor C. Meredith – Police and Crime Panel

To consider.

The Committee AGREED that future meetings be held at 9.30 am and proposed that as there was a little flexibility with Democratic Services Scrutiny Committee that the date be altered accordingly to ensure there was no clash in the Council Diary to allow for the meeting to proceed at 9.30 am.

To receive the Minutes of the Democratic Services Committee held on 22^nd March, 2021.

 (Please note the Minutes are submitted for points of accuracy only)

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 22^nd March, 2021.

The Committee AGREED that the Minutes be received as a true record of proceedings.

To receive the Action Sheet.

Consideration was given to the Action Sheet from the meeting held on 22^nd March, 2021.

The Organisational Development Manager Payroll, Health & Safety outlined the Action Sheet and noted the responses accordingly.

Payments to Representatives on Outside Bodies

A Member referred to payments made to Elected Members on outside organisations and felt that these should all be published. The Chief Officer Resources advised that the information was not requested as part of the publication requirements of the Independent Remuneration Panel however if Members wished the information to be included it would be at the discretion of the respective organisation and therefore the Authority could ask, however it may not be disclosed.

The Committee, subject to the foregoing, AGREED the Action Sheet.

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

The Organisational Development Manager Payroll, Health & Safety spoke to the report which sought approval of the publication of the Statement of Payments made to Members for 2020/2021. The report outlined the reporting requirements for the publication of the annual schedule of payments made to Members for 2020/21. The Officer advised that the Council was required to produce an annual schedule of payments which had been made to its members and co-opted members.

An overview of the information contained in Appendix 1 was provided. The Organisational Development Manager Payroll, Health & Safety noted an amendment to the Appendix in terms of the amount paid from Brecon Beacons National Park. The Officer confirmed that the amount was £4,000.92 and the report had been updated in readiness for consideration at Council.

The Committee AGREED that the report be accepted and to publicise the statement of payments made to Members (Option 1).

To consider the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Organisational Development.

The Organisational Development Manager Payroll, Health & Safety spoke to the report which detailed the Schedule of Members Remuneration for 2021-22 and provided an overview of the proposed schedule for Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council provided at Appendix 1. The report outlined the Schedule which included the arrangements for the payment of salaries, allowances and fees to all members and co-opted members.

The Organisational Development Manager Payroll, Health & Safety noted a change in Appendix 1 and confirmed that T. Edwards had now been appointed Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee. The Officer added that this amendment had been made to the report to be considered at full Council.

The Committee AGREED that the report be accepted and it was agreed that the Schedule of Members Remuneration for 2021/22 be published (Option 1).