Agenda item

Potential Remuneration of Members and Changes to Timing of Meetings - Results of Surveys

Report of the Town Clerk.

Minutes:

Members considered a report of the Town Clerk regarding potential remuneration of Members and changes to timings of meetings, alongside the results of Member surveys and the following points were made.

 

·         The Chairman noted the clear desire of Members to leave standard committee meeting times unchanged, and added that, nevertheless, committees remained free to change the times of their meetings should they wish to do so.

 

·         A Member noted that the Community and Children’s Services Committee had recently piloted an early morning meeting, which had allowed Members to attend who ordinarily found mid-morning or early afternoon meetings difficult to attend but that other members who normally attended meetings had been unable to do so.

 

·         The Chairman noted that there was a general view expressed in the surveys that remuneration of Members was not seen to be appropriate, but that in his view the recommendation for a review of the financial loss scheme was welcome, given that prospective candidates for election to the Court of Common Council should not be deterred from standing for election for any reason. He did not feel, however, that an independent review of the Financial Loss Scheme was necessary and moreover that any such review could be combined with a review of what assistance could be afforded to Members to support them in conducting their duties as elected Members of the City of London Corporation. 

 

·         Members concurred and suggested the formation of a Members Working Party to review the issue of financial assistance and the Member Financial Loss Scheme. Membership should include Members of the Policy and Resources Committee and other Members of the Court of Common Council.

 

RESOLVED, that Members

 

·         Note the result of the surveys;

 

·         agree that the timing of meetings should remain unchanged, it being noted that a committee could, if it so chose, agree to alter the time of its meetings. However, it should also be noted that depending on the time chosen there could be wider resource implications;

 

·         request that the Town Clerk bring a report to Members proposing terms of reference and composition of a Member Working Party to consider the provision of assistance for Members to cover the cost of an appropriate form of dress for City Corporation events and what form this should take, and to undertake a review of the Members’ Financial Loss Scheme.

 

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