Independent Remuneration Panel Member

The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) Regulations 2003 provide for local authorities to establish and maintain an Independent Remuneration Panel. This is responsible for the monitoring of the Members' Allowance Scheme and to make recommendations to the Council regarding the scheme.The Panel produces a report making recommendations about the payment and amount of allowances, the duties to which special responsibility allowances are applicable; and whether allowances should be index linked. The Panel also makes recommendations to the Council whenever the Council decides to either revoke or amend its current scheme.Each local authority is required by law to have an Independent Panel to advise the Council on its scheme of allowances, and amount of allowances that should be paid under the scheme. The Council has a duty to take into consideration the advice of the Independent Panel.The council is looking to appoint a new Independent Remuneration Panel Member.Independent Remuneration PanelOur Council is made up of elected Members who are entitled to receive payments in the form of allowances and expenses to compensate them for the work that they do and the responsibilities they assume on behalf of the communities they serve. In addition to receiving reimbursement of travelling and subsistence allowances, the payments to elected Members comprise what is termed a "Basic Allowance", which is paid to all Members to reflect the roles that they all undertake and "Special Responsibility Allowances", which are paid to those Members who carry particular responsibilities within the council's constitutional arrangements.The Government requires that councils establish Independent Remuneration Panels (IRP's). Councils cannot alter or update their existing Schemes of Members Allowances without first considering a report from an Independent Remuneration Panel.The intention is that IRP's should be made up of completely independent persons who can consider the roles undertaken by councillors and make recommendations as to the amount they should receive in basic and special responsibility allowances. IRP's will receive information from councils to enable them to reach informed decisions and will be able to seek comparative information from other councils, interview councillors and generally undertake what research they consider necessary to enable them to make well founded recommendations.Terms of appointmentThe IRP will consist of up to five people, appointed for a term of up to 4 years.The post is on a voluntary basis and the term of the appointment is for four years from the date of appointment.Members of the IRP may claim travel expenses and reimbursement of subsistence costs incurred will also be made.Meetings will be held either at the Council Offices in Witney, or via video conferencing. The number and frequency of the IRP's meetings cannot easily be determined. Schemes of Allowances recommended by the IRP would normally operate for at least a year. A reasonable estimate is that the IRP may need to meet two to three times per annum for approximately two hours. Individual Panel Members may need to spend some time outside of meetings reading relevant material or conducting interviews with Members.Candidates must be able to demonstrate a high degree of personal integrity. Some knowledge of the local government and/or role of councillors would be advantageous but is not essential.It is intended that the members of the IRP will be selected from those responding to this advertisement although other means of recruitment may also be considered depending on the number and nature of responses received. Short-listed candidates will be interviewed. The final appointments will be subject to confirmation by the Council.Please note that you are not eligible for appointment to the role if:You are an elected Member of the local authorityA member of any committees of the local authority (including co-opted members.)Disqualified from becoming a member of the local authorityYou are a member or officer of any local authority, this includes parish councils;You have a close personal relationship with a member or officer of the councilYou work for an organisation that receives grants from the councilUnder 18 years of agePriority will be given to applicants who live or work in the West Oxfordshire District Council area.If you are interested in applying please apply with your CV, together with a covering letter (no more than 2 sides of A4 and as one combined document) setting out why you are interested in the role by no later than Monday 29th January 2024.