2020-06-09 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   9 JUNE 2020


     Gympie Regional Council
     Isaac Regional Council
     Livingstone Shire Council
     Lockyer Valley Regional Council
     Maranoa Regional Council
     Scenic Rim Regional Council
     South Burnett Regional Council
     Southern Downs Regional Council
     Tablelands Regional Council
     Western Downs Regional Council
     Whitsunday Regional Council

These are the other Councils that we typically use as benchmarks when looking at local
government issues.

Councillor Remuneration

For the 2019/20 financial year, the (former) Remuneration Tribunal set the following
remuneration for category 3 councils:

 Position                            Remuneration
 Mayor                                     $130,584
 Deputy Mayor                               $81,615
 Councillor                                 $69,372

See page 14 - https://www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au/resources/report/local-government/remuneration-
discipline-tribunal-report-2018.pdf

The remuneration of Councillors is due to increase from 1 July 2020 by 2% as per the
determination by the Local Government Remuneration Commission.

The purpose of this report is to propose that due to the extraordinary circumstances arising from
the coronavirus pandemic, it would be appropriate for Councillors to agree to a “wage freeze” and
not accept the scheduled 2% remuneration increase from 1 July 2020. A Council can elect to do
so by resolution and this report proposes the appropriate resolution to achieve that outcome. The
economic impacts of the virus have been very significant for our community and it is appropriate
for the Council to not accept any increase in Councillor remuneration at this time.

Previous Council Consideration
Nil.

Finance
Not accepting the recommended 2% remuneration increase from 1 July 2020 will save Council
$11,180.

Risks & Opportunities
This is an opportunity for the Council to demonstrate community leadership at this time of
economic hardship caused by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.


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