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

                                                               Mayor recently performed duties as Acting Mayor for
                                                               period  of  four  (4)  months   without   additional
                                                               remuneration.
                                                           2.  Retention former Mayor and Deputy Mayor resigned to
                                                               contest Federal and State roles.
                                                           3.  Local Government Act 2009 — drafted in a way to cater
                                                               for acting periods of short duration and does not
                                                               adequately consider longer term acting roles. The
                                                               current remuneration structure requires flexibility to
                                                               allow for unplanned and prolonged vacancies and
                                                               absences.
                                                           4.  Remuneration consistency during Federal and State
                                                               election campaigns — there is currently no mechanism
                                                               to suspend Mayoral or Deputy Mayor remuneration
                                                               when contesting Federal elections. This appears to be
                                                               an anomaly. There should be a mechanism that allows
                                                               for the removal of access to remuneration as per
                                                               section 160B of the Act that relates to candidates
                                                               running for office at a State election.

                       Request                         Council seeks clarification as to the remuneration payable to
                                                       Councillors running Federal election campaigns, and that
                                                       consideration be given to these matters in the Commission’s
                                                       review,

                       Determination                   The Commission notes that the submission is not a request for
                                                       approval fora specific councillor to remunerated at a level more
                                                       than the maximum amount payable under the Schedule, or in
                                                       relation to categories of local government generally. The
                                                       Commission    considers that   it is unable to   issue  any
                                                       determination about the remuneration payable to sitting
                                                       Mayors or Councillors who are running for office in Federal
                                                       elections as this is a matter that is outside the Commission’s
                                                       statutory functions. The Commission also does not have the
                                                       power to approve remuneration at an amount lower than in the
                                                       Schedule.

                                                       The Commission nevertheless notes the submission regarding
                                                       potential inconsistency between candidates for State elections
                                                       and Federal elections and will refer this matter back to the
                                                       Department for consideration.

                                                       As to increasing the amount of compensation payable to
                                                       councillors in acting Mayoral and Acting Deputy Mayoral roles
                                                       and long term acting roles generally, the Commission notes
                                                       that it has the power to consider specific request to remunerate
                                                       a specific councillor at an amount more than the maximum
                                                       payable   under  the  Schedule   if  there are   exceptional
                                                       circumstances that exist in relation to such request.

       LOCAL GOVERNMENT REMUNERATION COMMISSION | ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22                                           26

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