2023-02-07 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   7 FEBRUARY 2023




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                          7 FEBRUARY 2023

                                                           2.  Comparison    to  neighbouring   LGR   -  Councillor
                                                               participation and workload in fulfilling SEQ duties are
                                                               the same as neighbouring rural-based councils, for
                                                               example, Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley Regional
                                                               Councils, each of which are category three (3).
                                                           3.  Existing remuneration metrics require change to
                                                               reflect effort and participation.
                                                           4.  Community expectation - there is a high level of
                                                               community expectation as communities benchmark
                                                               Council   against   adjoining   densely   populated
                                                               communities, resulting in an increased workload.
                                                           5.  Councillor remuneration in Somerset has reduced
                                                               since amalgamation, while Somerset continues to
                                                               grow, is located in SEQ, and the representation (and
                                                               workload increased),
                                                           6.  Changes in legislation have increased scrutiny and
                                                               burden on elected members. This increased burden
                                                               needs to be considered.

                       Request                         Reinstate Council from Category two (2) to Category (3).
                       Determination                   The Commission will commence its review of categories and
                                                       the category system in 2023 and take into consideration the
                                                       matters raised. All Councils are invited to participate in the
                                                       2023 review. No change to the current category pending the
                                                       Commission’s 2023 review.

                                                       The matters raised specifically in the submissions have been
                                                       also considered by the Commission as part of its annual review
                                                       of the  maximum     remuneration  payable to   mayors   and
                                                       councillors.

                7      Date received                   Written Submission on 14 October 2022
                                                      Oral Submission on 17 October 2022 LGAQ Conference

                       Received from                   Whitsunday Regional Council:
                                                       CEO Rod Ferguson
                                                      Mayor Julie Hall, Deputy Mayor Gary Simpson

                       Summary of submission           Consideration   is  requested   to  introducing   additional
                                                       remuneration rates for Acting Mayor and Acting Deputy Mayor
                                                       for prolonged relief arrangements (e.g., paid at 80% of the
                                                       scheduled rate for periods in excess of a four-week vacancy or
                                                       absence),

                                                       Council identified discrepancy in current pay structures with
                                                       reliance upon the following factors:

                                                           1.  Acting Mayoral or Acting Deputy Mayoral roles do not
                                                               currently receive compensation for the higher duties.
                                                               Acting roles have been for extended periods of time to
                                                               cover leave of absence, for example, a former Deputy

       LOCAL GOVERNMENT REMUNERATION COMMISSION | ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22                                           25

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