2023-02-07 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   7 FEBRUARY 2023




                                                     Page 42 of 58

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                7 FEBRUARY 2023

              4. Matters raised with the Commission during
                 the remuneration review program

              A summary table of submissions made to the Commission during the review period and
              the Commission’s determination is provided below.

              Meetings and deputations
              Local governments were provided with the opportunity to engage with the Commission at
              the Annual Conference of the LGAQ at the Cairns Convention Centre held from 17 to 19
              October 2022.

              Central Highlands, Gladstone, Isaac, Somerset, Western Downs and Whitsunday Regional
              Councils, and Douglas Shire Council, provided the Commission with oral deputations
              during the 2022 LGAQ Conference in Cairns.

              Local governments were also given an opportunity to provide written submissions to the
              Commission. The Commission determined and advised councils that the date for written
              submissions would close on 4 November 2022.

              Nine written submissions were received by 4 November 2022: from the Northern
              Peninsula Area Regional Council, Toowoomba Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional
              Council, Western Downs Regional Council, Fraser Coast Regional Council, Mackay
              Regional Council, Central Highlands Regional Council, and Somerset Regional Council.

              In making its determination, the Commission had regard to all submissions it received,
              together with the matters on pages 6 to 10 of this report.
              Key points raised with the Commission during the 2022 review period included:
              e   increasing demands on councils in relation to innovation and sustainability;
              e   increasing demands on councils in relation to trade diversification and industry
                  engagement, particularly in light of the global move towards renewable energy
                  sources;
              e   role and career recognition, through remuneration, particularly in attracting and
                  retaining diverse and reasonable mayoral and councillor candidates;
              e   role and career recognition, through remuneration, in order to attract greater diversity
                  in age, and to support regional communities in developing and keeping local talent
              e   potential recognition of innovation;
              e   the impact of the sudden increase in inflation over the last 12 months on all local
                  governments, and the disproportionate effect on those on lower wages, as well as
                  those from rural, regional and remote communities.
              e   the current observed volatility and uncertainty regarding inflation, and the impact of
                  this on councils and their constituents.
              e   continuing concerns for the future and sustainability of their communities and
                  community constituents,    economic growth,    development,   and  sustainability.

      LOCAL GOVERNMENT REMUNERATION COMMISSION | ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22                                  18

                                                                                                     Page 42 of 58