Council workload NOT under-estimated

COUNCILLORS at Warrington are mistaken in the belief that their workload was under-estimated this year.
This appears to be the view of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) which makes recommendations on council members’ pay.
The views of the panel are to be put to the council’s Resources Overview and Scrutiny committee which earlier this year put forward recommendations for changes in the way councillors’ allowances are calculated.
Councillors believed their workload was based on an average of 15 hours a week for a backbench councillor, based on a survey carried out in 2006.
They argued that a more recent survey, in November last year, indicated the actual figure was 28.64 hours per week.
But the IRP has responded that the higher figure was, in fact, taken into account this year.
The IRP has also disagreed with councillors on a number of other issues.
Councillors have suggested that in future the terms of reference of the IRP should be set by a meeting of the full council and that such terms of reference stipulate
that the IRP have regard to the hours worked by councillors, other comparable councils and the views of members.
But the IRP has replied that they believe it would be inappropriate for full council to set the panel’s terms of reference, nor make stipulations.
However, the IRP would be prepared to survey the hours worked by councillors every year, rather than every four years as previously.
Councillors have also suggested the party whips should meet with the IRP to review the members’ allowances scheme.
The IRP says while party whips should be consulted, along with other members of the council, it was not the role of party whips to review the scheme.
The Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be invited to review its recommendations in the light of the IRP responses.